Antisense modulation of RECQL expression

ABSTRACT

Antisense compounds, compositions and methods are provided for modulating the expression of RECQL. The compositions comprise antisense compounds, particularly antisense oligonucleotides, targeted to nucleic acids encoding RECQL. Methods of using these compounds for modulation of RECQL expression and for treatment of diseases associated with expression of RECQL are provided.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention provides compositions and methods for modulating the expression of RECQL. In particular, this invention relates to compounds, particularly oligonucleotides, specifically hybridizable with nucleic acids encoding RECQL. Such compounds have been shown to modulate the expression of RECQL.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] Genomic integrity is critical to the health and survival of any organisms and cells have evolved multiple pathways for the repair of DNA damage.

[0003] One class of enzymes involved in the maintenance of genomic integrity and stability are DNA helicases. These proteins play important roles in DNA replication, repair, recombination and transcription by unwinding duplex genomic strands allowing the repair machinery access to damaged or mispaired DNA. For example, the RecQ family of helicases has been shown to be important players in linking cell cycle checkpoint responses to recombination repair (Chakraverty and Hickson, BioEssays, 1999, 21, 286-294; Frei and Gasser, J. Cell Sci., 2000, 113, 2641-2646; Wu et al., Curr. Biol., 1999, 9, R518-520). More recently, these helicases have been implicated in the process of posttranscriptional gene silencing (PTGS) (Cogoni and Macino, Science, 1999, 286, 2342-2344). In this process, the helicase is required to separate the double-stranded DNA (dsDNA) before any hybridization and silencing mechanism could be initiated.

[0004] The RecQ family consists of five members and can be divided into two distinct groups according to whether they contain an additional carboxy- or amino-terminus group. One class containing the longest members of the family include genes known to be defective in several syndromes including the BLM gene in Bloom's syndrome, the WRN gene in Werner's syndrome and the RECQ4 gene in Rothmund-Thompson syndrome. Mutations in these genes lead to an increase in the incidence of cancer as well as other physiologic abnormalities (Karow et al., Curr. Opin. Genet. Dev., 2000, 10, 32-38; Kawabe et al., Oncogene, 2000, 19, 4764-4772).

[0005] The second class contains the RECQL gene and the RECQ5 gene which encode little more than the central helicase domain and have not been associated with any human disease.

[0006] RECQL (also known as RECQL1 and RecQ like (DNA helicase Q1-like)) was the first human member of the RecQ family to be identified. Cloned by Puranam and Blackshear, RECQL was shown to have extensive homology with the E. coli DNA helicase, RecQ, (Puranam and Blackshear, J. Biol. Chem., 1994, 269, 29838-29845) and to be located on chromosome 12p11 (Puranam et al., Genomics, 1995, 26, 595-598). Recent studies of the mouse RECQL gene revealed that two isoforms exist with one being expressed specifically in the testis (Wang et al., Biochim. Biophys. Acta., 1998, 1443, 198-202).

[0007] The RECQL protein may be involved in nuclear protein transport into the nucleus as it has been shown by two-hybrid screening to interact with both the QIP1 and QIP2 proteins which function as nuclear localization signal receptors (Seki et al., Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun., 1997, 234, 48-53).

[0008] Currently, there are no known therapeutic agents which effectively inhibit the synthesis of RECQL. Consequently, there remains a long felt need for agents capable of effectively inhibiting RECQL function.

[0009] Antisense technology is emerging as an effective means for reducing the expression of specific gene products and may therefore prove to be uniquely useful in a number of therapeutic, diagnostic, and research applications for the modulation of RECQL expression.

[0010] The present invention provides compositions and methods for modulating RECQL expression, including modulation of alternate isoforms of RECQL.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0011] The present invention is directed to compounds, particularly antisense oligonucleotides, which are targeted to a nucleic acid encoding RECQL, and which modulate the expression of RECQL. Pharmaceutical and other compositions comprising the compounds of the invention are also provided. Further provided are methods of modulating the expression of RECQL in cells or tissues comprising contacting said cells or tissues with one or more of the antisense compounds or compositions of the invention. Further provided are methods of treating an animal, particularly a human, suspected of having or being prone to a disease or condition associated with expression of RECQL by administering a therapeutically or prophylactically effective amount of one or more of the antisense compounds or compositions of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0012] The present invention employs oligomeric compounds, particularly antisense oligonucleotides, for use in modulating the function of nucleic acid molecules encoding RECQL, ultimately modulating the amount of RECQL produced. This is accomplished by providing antisense compounds which specifically hybridize with one or more nucleic acids encoding RECQL. As used herein, the terms “target nucleic acid” and “nucleic acid encoding RECQL” encompass DNA encoding RECQL, RNA (including pre-mRNA and mRNA) transcribed from such DNA, and also cDNA derived from such RNA. The specific hybridization of an oligomeric compound with its target nucleic acid interferes with the normal function of the nucleic acid. This modulation of function of a target nucleic acid by compounds which specifically hybridize to it is generally referred to as “antisense”. The functions of DNA to be interfered with include replication and transcription. The functions of RNA to be interfered with include all vital functions such as, for example, translocation of the RNA to the site of protein translation, translation of protein from the RNA, splicing of the RNA to yield one or more mRNA species, and catalytic activity which may be engaged in or facilitated by the RNA. The overall effect of such interference with target nucleic acid function is modulation of the expression of RECQL. In the context of the present invention, “modulation” means either an increase (stimulation) or a decrease (inhibition) in the expression of a gene. In the context of the present invention, inhibition is the preferred form of modulation of gene expression and mRNA is a preferred target.

[0013] It is preferred to target specific nucleic acids for antisense. “Targeting” an antisense compound to a particular nucleic acid, in the context of this invention, is a multistep process. The process usually begins with the identification of a nucleic acid sequence whose function is to be modulated. This may be, for example, a cellular gene (or mRNA transcribed from the gene) whose expression is associated with a particular disorder or disease state, or a nucleic acid molecule from an infectious agent. In the present invention, the target is a nucleic acid molecule encoding RECQL. The targeting process also includes determination of a site or sites within this gene for the antisense interaction to occur such that the desired effect, e.g., detection or modulation of expression of the protein, will result. Within the context of the present invention, a preferred intragenic site is the region encompassing the translation initiation or termination codon of the open reading frame (ORF) of the gene. Since, as is known in the art, the translation initiation codon is typically 5′-AUG (in transcribed mRNA molecules; 5′-ATG in the corresponding DNA molecule), the translation initiation codon is also referred to as the “AUG codon,” the “start codon” or the “AUG start codon”. A minority of genes have a translation initiation codon having the RNA sequence 5′-GUG, 5′-UUG or 5′-CUG, and 5′-AUA, 5′-ACG and 5′-CUG have been shown to function in vivo. Thus, the terms “translation initiation codon” and “start codon” can encompass many codon sequences, even though the initiator amino acid in each instance is typically methionine (in eukaryotes) or formylmethionine (in prokaryotes). It is also known in the art that eukaryotic and prokaryotic genes may have two or more alternative start codons, any one of which may be preferentially utilized for translation initiation in a particular cell type or tissue, or under a particular set of conditions. In the context of the invention, “start codon” and “translation initiation codon” refer to the codon or codons that are used in vivo to initiate translation of an mRNA molecule transcribed from a gene encoding RECQL, regardless of the sequence(s) of such codons.

[0014] It is also known in the art that a translation termination codon (or “stop codon”) of a gene may have one of three sequences, i.e., 5′-UAA, 5′-UAG and 5′-UGA (the corresponding DNA sequences are 5′-TAA, 5′-TAG and 5′-TGA, respectively). The terms “start codon region” and “translation initiation codon region” refer to a portion of such an mRNA or gene that encompasses from about 25 to about 50 contiguous nucleotides in either direction (i.e., 5′ or 3′) from a translation initiation codon. Similarly, the terms “stop codon region” and “translation termination codon region” refer to a portion of such an mRNA or gene that encompasses from about 25 to about 50 contiguous nucleotides in either direction (i.e., 5′ or 3′) from a translation termination codon.

[0015] The open reading frame (ORF) or “coding region,” which is known in the art to refer to the region between the translation initiation codon and the translation termination codon, is also a region which may be targeted effectively. Other target regions include the 5′ untranslated region (5′UTR), known in the art to refer to the portion of an mRNA in the 5′ direction from the translation initiation codon, and thus including nucleotides between the 5′ cap site and the translation initiation codon of an mRNA or corresponding nucleotides on the gene, and the 3′ untranslated region (3′UTR), known in the art to refer to the portion of an mRNA in the 3′ direction from the translation termination codon, and thus including nucleotides between the translation termination codon and 3′ end of an mRNA or corresponding nucleotides on the gene. The 5′ cap of an mRNA comprises an N7-methylated guanosine residue joined to the 5′-most residue of the mRNA via a 5′-5′ triphosphate linkage. The 5′ cap region of an mRNA is considered to include the 5′ cap structure itself as well as the first 50 nucleotides adjacent to the cap. The 5′ cap region may also be a preferred target region.

[0016] Although some eukaryotic mRNA transcripts are directly translated, many contain one or more regions, known as “introns,” which are excised from a transcript before it is translated. The remaining (and therefore translated) regions are known as “exons” and are spliced together to form a continuous mRNA sequence. mRNA splice sites, i.e., intron-exon junctions, may also be preferred target regions, and are particularly useful in situations where aberrant splicing is implicated in disease, or where an overproduction of a particular mRNA splice product is implicated in disease. Aberrant fusion junctions due to rearrangements or deletions are also preferred targets. It has also been found that introns can also be effective, and therefore preferred, target regions for antisense compounds targeted, for example, to DNA or pre-mRNA.

[0017] Once one or more target sites have been identified, oligonucleotides are chosen which are sufficiently complementary to the target, i.e., hybridize sufficiently well and with sufficient specificity, to give the desired effect.

[0018] In the context of this invention, “hybridization” means hydrogen bonding, which may be Watson-Crick, Hoogsteen or reversed Hoogsteen hydrogen bonding, between complementary nucleoside or nucleotide bases. For example, adenine and thymine are complementary nucleobases which pair through the formation of hydrogen bonds. “Complementary,” as used herein, refers to the capacity for precise pairing between two nucleotides. For example, if a nucleotide at a certain position of an oligonucleotide is capable of hydrogen bonding with a nucleotide at the same position of a DNA or RNA molecule, then the oligonucleotide and the DNA or RNA are considered to be complementary to each other at that position. The oligonucleotide and the DNA or RNA are complementary to each other when a sufficient number of corresponding positions in each molecule are occupied by nucleotides which can hydrogen bond with each other. Thus, “specifically hybridizable” and “complementary” are terms which are used to indicate a sufficient degree of complementarity or precise pairing such that stable and specific binding occurs between the oligonucleotide and the DNA or RNA target. It is understood in the art that the sequence of an antisense compound need not be 100% complementary to that of its target nucleic acid to be specifically hybridizable. An antisense compound is specifically hybridizable when binding of the compound to the target DNA or RNA molecule interferes with the normal function of the target DNA or RNA to cause a loss of utility, and there is a sufficient degree of complementarity to avoid non-specific binding of the antisense compound to non-target sequences under conditions in which specific binding is desired, i.e., under physiological conditions in the case of in vivo assays or therapeutic treatment, and in the case of in vitro assays, under conditions in which the assays are performed.

[0019] Antisense and other compounds of the invention which hybridize to the target and inhibit expression of the target are identified through experimentation, and the sequences of these compounds are hereinbelow identified as preferred embodiments of the invention. The target sites to which these preferred sequences are complementary are hereinbelow referred to as “active sites” and are therefore preferred sites for targeting. Therefore another embodiment of the invention encompasses compounds which hybridize to these active sites.

[0020] Antisense compounds are commonly used as research reagents and diagnostics. For example, antisense oligonucleotides, which are able to inhibit gene expression with exquisite specificity, are often used by those of ordinary skill to elucidate the function of particular genes. Antisense compounds are also used, for example, to distinguish between functions of various members of a biological pathway. Antisense modulation has, therefore, been harnessed for research use.

[0021] For use in kits and diagnostics, the antisense compounds of the present invention, either alone or in combination with other antisense compounds or therapeutics, can be used as tools in differential and/or combinatorial analyses to elucidate expression patterns of a portion or the entire complement of genes expressed within cells and tissues.

[0022] Expression patterns within cells or tissues treated with one or more antisense compounds are compared to control cells or tissues not treated with antisense compounds and the patterns produced are analyzed for differential levels of gene expression as they pertain, for example, to disease association, signaling pathway, cellular localization, expression level, size, structure or function of the genes examined. These analyses can be performed on stimulated or unstimulated cells and in the presence or absence of other compounds which affect expression patterns.

[0023] Examples of methods of gene expression analysis known in the art include DNA arrays or microarrays (Brazma and Vilo, FEBS Lett., 2000, 480, 17-24; Celis, et al., FEBS Lett., 2000, 480, 2-16), SAGE (serial analysis of gene expression) (Madden, et al., Drug Discov. Today, 2000, 5, 415-425), READS (restriction enzyme amplification of digested cDNAs) (Prashar and Weissman, Methods Enzymol., 1999, 303, 258-72), TOGA (total gene expression analysis) (Sutcliffe, et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U. S. A., 2000, 97, 1976-81), protein arrays and proteomics (Celis, et al., FEBS Lett., 2000, 480, 2-16; Jungblut, et al., Electrophoresis, 1999, 20, 2100-10), expressed sequence tag (EST) sequencing (Celis, et al., FEBS Lett., 2000, 480, 2-16; Larsson, et al., J. Biotechnol., 2000, 80, 143-57), subtractive RNA fingerprinting (SuRF) (Fuchs, et al., Anal. Biochem., 2000, 286, 91-98; Larson, et al., Cytometry, 2000, 41, 203-208), subtractive cloning, differential display (DD) (Jurecic and Belmont, Curr. Opin. Microbiol., 2000, 3, 316-21), comparative genomic hybridization (Carulli, et al., J. Cell Biochem. Suppl., 1998, 31, 286-96), FISH (fluorescent in situ hybridization) techniques (Going and Gusterson, Eur. J. Cancer, 1999, 35, 1895-904) and mass spectrometry methods (reviewed in (To, Comb. Chem. High Throughput Screen, 2000, 3, 235-41).

[0024] The specificity and sensitivity of antisense is also harnessed by those of skill in the art for therapeutic uses. Antisense oligonucleotides have been employed as therapeutic moieties in the treatment of disease states in animals and man. Antisense oligonucleotide drugs, including ribozymes, have been safely and effectively administered to humans and numerous clinical trials are presently underway. It is thus established that oligonucleotides can be useful therapeutic modalities that can be configured to be useful in treatment regimes for treatment of cells, tissues and animals, especially humans.

[0025] In the context of this invention, the term “oligonucleotide” refers to an oligomer or polymer of ribonucleic acid (RNA) or deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) or mimetics thereof. This term includes oligonucleotides composed of naturally-occurring nucleobases, sugars and covalent internucleoside (backbone) linkages as well as oligonucleotides having non-naturally-occurring portions which function similarly. Such modified or substituted oligonucleotides are often preferred over native forms because of desirable properties such as, for example, enhanced cellular uptake, enhanced affinity for nucleic acid target and increased stability in the presence of nucleases.

[0026] While antisense oligonucleotides are a preferred form of antisense compound, the present invention comprehends other oligomeric antisense compounds, including but not limited to oligonucleotide mimetics such as are described below. The antisense compounds in accordance with this invention preferably comprise from about 8 to about 50 nucleobases (i.e. from about 8 to about 50 linked nucleosides). Particularly preferred antisense compounds are antisense oligonucleotides, even more preferably those comprising from about 12 to about 30 nucleobases. Antisense compounds include ribozymes, external guide sequence (EGS) oligonucleotides (oligozymes), and other short catalytic RNAs or catalytic oligonucleotides which hybridize to the target nucleic acid and modulate its expression.

[0027] As is known in the art, a nucleoside is a base-sugar combination. The base portion of the nucleoside is normally a heterocyclic base. The two most common classes of such heterocyclic bases are the purines and the pyrimidines. Nucleotides are nucleosides that further include a phosphate group covalently linked to the sugar portion of the nucleoside. For those nucleosides that include a pentofuranosyl sugar, the phosphate group can be linked to either the 2′, 3′ or 5′ hydroxyl moiety of the sugar. In forming oligonucleotides, the phosphate groups covalently link adjacent nucleosides to one another to form a linear polymeric compound. In turn the respective ends of this linear polymeric structure can be further joined to form a circular structure, however, open linear structures are generally preferred. Within the oligonucleotide structure, the phosphate groups are commonly referred to as forming the internucleoside backbone of the oligonucleotide. The normal linkage or backbone of RNA and DNA is a 3′ to 5′ phosphodiester linkage.

[0028] Specific examples of preferred antisense compounds useful in this invention include oligonucleotides containing modified backbones or non-natural internucleoside linkages. As defined in this specification, oligonucleotides having modified backbones include those that retain a phosphorus atom in the backbone and those that do not have a phosphorus atom in the backbone. For the purposes of this specification, and as sometimes referenced in the art, modified oligonucleotides that do not have a phosphorus atom in their internucleoside backbone can also be considered to be oligonucleosides.

[0029] Preferred modified oligonucleotide backbones include, for example, phosphorothioates, chiral phosphorothioates, phosphorodithioates, phosphotriesters, aminoalkylphosphotriesters, methyl and other alkyl phosphonates including 3′-alkylene phosphonates, 5′-alkylene phosphonates and chiral phosphonates, phosphinates, phosphoramidates including 3′-amino phosphoramidate and aminoalkylphosphoramidates, thionophosphoramidates, thionoalkylphosphonates, thionoalkylphosphotriesters, selenophosphates and borano-phosphates having normal 3′-5′ linkages, 2′-5′ linked analogs of these, and those having inverted polarity wherein one or more internucleotide linkages is a 3′ to 3′, 5′ to 5′ or 2′ to 2′ linkage. Preferred oligonucleotides having inverted polarity comprise a single 3′ to 3′ linkage at the 3′-most internucleotide linkage i.e. a single inverted nucleoside residue which may be abasic (the nucleobase is missing or has a hydroxyl group in place thereof). Various salts, mixed salts and free acid forms are also included.

[0030] Representative United States patents that teach the preparation of the above phosphorus-containing linkages include, but are not limited to, U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,687,808; 4,469,863; 4,476,301; 5,023,243; 5,177,196; 5,188,897; 5,264,423; 5,276,019; 5,278,302; 5,286,717; 5,321,131; 5,399,676; 5,405,939; 5,453,496; 5,455,233; 5,466,677; 5,476,925; 5,519,126; 5,536,821; 5,541,306; 5,550,111; 5,563,253; 5,571,799; 5,587,361; 5,194,599; 5,565,555; 5,527,899; 5,721,218; 5,672,697 and 5,625,050, certain of which are commonly owned with this application, and each of which is herein incorporated by reference.

[0031] Preferred modified oligonucleotide backbones that do not include a phosphorus atom therein have backbones that are formed by short chain alkyl or cycloalkyl internucleoside linkages, mixed heteroatom and alkyl or cycloalkyl internucleoside linkages, or one or more short chain heteroatomic or heterocyclic internucleoside linkages. These include those having morpholino linkages (formed in part from the sugar portion of a nucleoside); siloxane backbones; sulfide, sulfoxide and sulfone backbones; formacetyl and thioformacetyl backbones; methylene formacetyl and thioformacetyl backbones; riboacetyl backbones; alkene containing backbones; sulfamate backbones; methyleneimino and methylenehydrazino backbones; sulfonate and sulfonamide backbones; amide backbones; and others having mixed N, O, S and CH₂ component parts.

[0032] Representative United States patents that teach the preparation of the above oligonucleosides include, but are not limited to, U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,034,506; 5,166,315; 5,185,444; 5,214,134; 5,216,141; 5,235,033; 5,264,562; 5,264,564; 5,405,938; 5,434,257; 5,466,677; 5,470,967; 5,489,677; 5,541,307; 5,561,225; 5,596,086; 5,602,240; 5,610,289; 5,602,240; 5,608,046; 5,610,289; 5,618,704; 5,623,070; 5,663,312; 5,633,360; 5,677,437; 5,792,608; 5,646,269 and 5,677,439, certain of which are commonly owned with this application, and each of which is herein incorporated by reference.

[0033] In other preferred oligonucleotide mimetics, both the sugar and the internucleoside linkage, i.e., the backbone, of the nucleotide units are replaced with novel groups. The base units are maintained for hybridization with an appropriate nucleic acid target compound. One such oligomeric compound, an oligonucleotide mimetic that has been shown to have excellent hybridization properties, is referred to as a peptide nucleic acid (PNA). In PNA compounds, the sugar-backbone of an oligonucleotide is replaced with an amide containing backbone, in particular an aminoethylglycine backbone. The nucleobases are retained and are bound directly or indirectly to aza nitrogen atoms of the amide portion of the backbone. Representative United States patents that teach the preparation of PNA compounds include, but are not limited to, U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,539,082; 5,714,331; and 5,719,262, each of which is herein incorporated by reference. Further teaching of PNA compounds can be found in Nielsen et al., Science, 1991, 254, 1497-1500.

[0034] Most preferred embodiments of the invention are oligonucleotides with phosphorothioate backbones and oligonucleosides with heteroatom backbones, and in particular —CH₂—NH—O—CH₂—, —CH₂—N(CH₃)—O—CH₂— [known as a methylene (methylimino) or MMI backbone], —CH₂—O—N(CH₃)—CH₂—, —CH₂—N(CH₃)— N(CH₃)—CH₂— and —O—N(CH₃)—CH₂—CH₂— [wherein the native phosphodiester backbone is represented as —O—P—O—CH₂—] of the above referenced U.S. Pat. No. 5,489,677, and the amide backbones of the above referenced U.S. Pat. No. 5,602,240. Also preferred are oligonucleotides having morpholino backbone structures of the above-referenced U.S. Pat. No. 5,034,506.

[0035] Modified oligonucleotides may also contain one or more substituted sugar moieties. Preferred oligonucleotides comprise one of the following at the 2′ position: OH; F; O-, S-, or N-alkyl; O-, S-, or N-alkenyl; O-, S- or N-alkynyl; or O-alkyl-O-alkyl, wherein the alkyl, alkenyl and alkynyl may be substituted or unsubstituted C₁ to C₁₀ alkyl or C₂ to C₁₀ alkenyl and alkynyl. Particularly preferred are O[(CH₂)_(n)O]_(m)CH₃, O(CH₂)_(n)OCH₃, O(CH₂)_(n)NH₂, O(CH₂)_(n)CH₃, O(CH₂)_(n)ONH₂, and O (CH₂)_(n)ON[(CH₂)_(n)CH₃)_(n)]₂ where n and m are from 1 to about 10. Other preferred oligonucleotides comprise one of the following at the 2′ position: C₁ to C₁₀ lower alkyl, substituted lower alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, alkaryl, aralkyl, O-alkaryl or O-aralkyl, SH, SCH₃, OCN, Cl, Br, CN, CF₃, OCF₃, SOCH₃, SO₂CH₃, ONO₂, NO₂, N₃, NH₂, heterocycloalkyl, heterocycloalkaryl, aminoalkylamino, polyalkylamino, substituted silyl, an RNA cleaving group, a reporter group, an intercalator, a group for improving the pharmacokinetic properties of an oligonucleotide, or a group for improving the pharmacodynamic properties of an oligonucleotide, and other substituents having similar properties. A preferred modification includes 2′-methoxyethoxy (2′—O—CH₂CH₂OCH₃, also known as 2′—O—(2-methoxyethyl) or 2′-MOE) (Martin et al., Helv. Chim. Acta, 1995, 78, 486-504) i.e., an alkoxyalkoxy group. A further preferred modification includes 2′-dimethylaminooxyethoxy, i.e., a O(CH₂)₂ON(CH₃)₂ group, also known as 2′-DMAOE, as described in examples hereinbelow, and 2′-dimethylaminoethoxyethoxy (also known in the art as 2′—O-dimethylaminoethoxyethyl or 2′-DMAEOE), i.e., 2′—O—CH₂—O—CH₂—N(CH₂)₂, also described in examples hereinbelow.

[0036] A further prefered modification includes Locked Nucleic Acids (LNAs) in which the 2′-hydroxyl group is linked to the 3′ or 4′ carbon atom of the sugar ring thereby forming a bicyclic sugar moiety. The linkage is preferably a methelyne (—CH₂—)_(n) group bridging the 2′ oxygen atom and the 4′ carbon atom wherein n is 1 or 2. LNAs and preparation thereof are described in WO 98/39352 and WO 99/14226.

[0037] Other preferred modifications include 2′-methoxy (2′—O—CH₃), 2′-aminopropoxy (2′—OCH₂CH₂CH₂NH₂), 2′-allyl (2′—CH₂—CH═CH₂), 2′-O-allyl (2′—O—CH₂—CH═CH₂) and 2′-fluoro (2′—F). The 2′-modification may be in the arabino (up) position or ribo (down) position. A preferred 2′-arabino modification is 2′—F. Similar modifications may also be made at other positions on the oligonucleotide, particularly the 3′ position of the sugar on the 3′ terminal nucleotide or in 2′-5′ linked oligonucleotides and the 5′ position of 5′ terminal nucleotide. Oligonucleotides may also have sugar mimetics such as cyclobutyl moieties in place of the pentofuranosyl sugar. Representative United States patents that teach the preparation of such modified sugar structures include, but are not limited to, U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,981,957; 5,118,800; 5,319,080; 5,359,044; 5,393,878; 5,446,137; 5,466,786; 5,514,785; 5,519,134; 5,567,811; 5,576,427; 5,591,722; 5,597,909; 5,610,300; 5,627,053; 5,639,873; 5,646,265; 5,658,873; 5,670,633; 5,792,747; and 5,700,920, certain of which are commonly owned with the instant application, and each of which is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety.

[0038] Oligonucleotides may also include nucleobase (often referred to in the art simply as “base”) modifications or substitutions. As used herein, “unmodified” or “natural” nucleobases include the purine bases adenine (A) and guanine (G), and the pyrimidine bases thymine (T), cytosine (C) and uracil (U). Modified nucleobases include other synthetic and natural nucleobases such as 5-methylcytosine (5-me-C), 5-hydroxymethyl cytosine, xanthine, hypoxanthine, 2-aminoadenine, 6-methyl and other alkyl derivatives of adenine and guanine, 2-propyl and other alkyl derivatives of adenine and guanine, 2-thiouracil, 2-thiothymine and 2-thiocytosine, 5-halouracil and cytosine, 5-propynyl (—C≡C—CH₃) uracil and cytosine and other alkynyl derivatives of pyrimidine bases, 6-azo uracil, cytosine and thymine, 5-uracil (pseudouracil), 4-thiouracil, 8-halo, 8-amino, 8-thiol, 8-thioalkyl, 8-hydroxyl and other 8-substituted adenines and guanines, 5-halo particularly 5-bromo, 5-trifluoromethyl and other 5-substituted uracils and cytosines, 7-methylguanine and 7-methyladenine, 2-F-adenine, 2-amino-adenine, 8-azaguanine and 8-azaadenine, 7-deazaguanine and 7-deazaadenine and 3-deazaguanine and 3-deazaadenine. Further modified nucleobases include tricyclic pyrimidines such as phenoxazine cytidine(1H-pyrimido[5,4-b] [1,4]benzoxazin-2(3H)-one), phenothiazine cytidine (1H-pyrimido[5,4-b] [1,4]benzothiazin-2(3H)-one), G-clamps such as a substituted phenoxazine cytidine (e.g. 9-(2-aminoethoxy)-H-pyrimido[5,4-b][1,4]benzoxazin-2(3H)-one), carbazole cytidine (2H-pyrimido[4,5-b]indol-2-one), pyridoindole cytidine (H-pyrido[3′,2′:4,5]pyrrolo[2,3-d]pyrimidin-2-one). Modified nucleobases may also include those in which the purine or pyrimidine base is replaced with other heterocycles, for example 7-deaza-adenine, 7-deazaguanosine, 2-aminopyridine and 2-pyridone. Further nucleobases include those disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,687,808, those disclosed in The Concise Encyclopedia Of Polymer Science And Engineering, pages 858-859, Kroschwitz, J. I., ed. John Wiley & Sons, 1990, those disclosed by Englisch et al., Angewandte Chemie, International Edition, 1991, 30, 613, and those disclosed by Sanghvi, Y. S., Chapter 15, Antisense Research and Applications, pages 289-302, Crooke, S. T. and Lebleu, B., ed., CRC Press, 1993. Certain of these nucleobases are particularly useful for increasing the binding affinity of the oligomeric compounds of the invention. These include 5-substituted pyrimidines, 6-azapyrimidines and N-2, N-6 and O-6 substituted purines, including 2-aminopropyladenine, 5-propynyluracil and 5-propynylcytosine. 5-methylcytosine substitutions have been shown to increase nucleic acid duplex stability by 0.6-1.2° C. (Sanghvi, Y. S., Crooke, S. T. and Lebleu, B., eds., Antisense Research and Applications, CRC Press, Boca Raton, 1993, pp. 276-278) and are presently preferred base substitutions, even more particularly when combined with 2′-O-methoxyethyl sugar modifications.

[0039] Representative United States patents that teach the preparation of certain of the above noted modified nucleobases as well as other modified nucleobases include, but are not limited to, the above noted U.S. Pat. No. 3,687,808, as well as U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,845,205; 5,130,302; 5,134,066; 5,175,273; 5,367,066; 5,432,272; 5,457,187; 5,459,255; 5,484,908; 5,502,177; 5,525,711; 5,552,540; 5,587,469; 5,594,121, 5,596,091; 5,614,617; 5,645,985; 5,830,653; 5,763,588; 6,005,096; and 5,681,941, certain of which are commonly owned with the instant application, and each of which is herein incorporated by reference, and U.S. Pat. No. 5,750,692, which is commonly owned with the instant application and also herein incorporated by reference.

[0040] Another modification of the oligonucleotides of the invention involves chemically linking to the oligonucleotide one or more moieties or conjugates which enhance the activity, cellular distribution or cellular uptake of the oligonucleotide. The compounds of the invention can include conjugate groups covalently bound to functional groups such as primary or secondary hydroxyl groups. Conjugate groups of the invention include intercalators, reporter molecules, polyamines, polyamides, polyethylene glycols, polyethers, groups that enhance the pharmacodynamic properties of oligomers, and groups that enhance the pharmacokinetic properties of oligomers. Typical conjugates groups include cholesterols, lipids, phospholipids, biotin, phenazine, folate, phenanthridine, anthraquinone, acridine, fluoresceins, rhodamines, coumarins, and dyes. Groups that enhance the pharmacodynamic properties, in the context of this invention, include groups that improve oligomer uptake, enhance oligomer resistance to degradation, and/or strengthen sequence-specific hybridization with RNA. Groups that enhance the pharmacokinetic properties, in the context of this invention, include groups that improve oligomer uptake, distribution, metabolism or excretion. Representative conjugate groups are disclosed in International Patent Application PCT/US92/09196, filed Oct. 23, 1992 the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. Conjugate moieties include but are not limited to lipid moieties such as a cholesterol moiety (Letsinger et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 1989, 86, 6553-6556), cholic acid (Manoharan et al., Bioorg. Med. Chem. Let., 1994, 4, 1053-1060), a thioether, e.g., hexyl-S-tritylthiol (Manoharan et al., Ann. N.Y. Acad. Sci., 1992, 660, 306-309; Manoharan et al., Bioorg. Med. Chem. Let., 1993, 3, 2765-2770), a thiocholesterol (Oberhauser et al., Nucl. Acids Res., 1992, 20, 533-538), an aliphatic chain, e.g., dodecandiol or undecyl residues (Saison-Behmoaras et al., EMBO J., 1991, 10, 1111-1118; Kabanov et al., FEBS Lett., 1990, 259, 327-330; Svinarchuk et al., Biochimie, 1993, 75, 49-54), a phospholipid, e.g., di-hexadecyl-rac-glycerol or triethyl-ammonium 1,2-di-O-hexadecyl-rac-glycero-3-H-phosphonate (Manoharan et al., Tetrahedron Lett., 1995, 36, 3651-3654; Shea et al., Nucl. Acids Res., 1990, 18, 3777-3783), a polyamine or a polyethylene glycol chain (Manoharan et al., Nucleosides & Nucleotides, 1995, 14, 969-973), or adamantane acetic acid (Manoharan et al., Tetrahedron Lett., 1995, 36, 3651-3654), a palmityl moiety (Mishra et al., Biochim. Biophys. Acta, 1995, 1264, 229-237), or an octadecylamine or hexylamino-carbonyl-oxycholesterol moiety (Crooke et al., J. Pharmacol. Exp. Ther., 1996, 277, 923-937. Oligonucleotides of the invention may also be conjugated to active drug substances, for example, aspirin, warfarin, phenylbutazone, ibuprofen, suprofen, fenbufen, ketoprofen, (S)-(+)-pranoprofen, carprofen, dansylsarcosine, 2,3,5-triiodobenzoic acid, flufenamic acid, folinic acid, a benzothiadiazide, chlorothiazide, a diazepine, indomethicin, a barbiturate, a cephalosporin, a sulfa drug, an antidiabetic, an antibacterial or an antibiotic. Oligonucleotide-drug conjugates and their preparation are described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/334,130 (filed Jun. 15, 1999) which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

[0041] Representative United States patents that teach the preparation of such oligonucleotide conjugates include, but are not limited to, U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,828,979; 4,948,882; 5,218,105; 5,525,465; 5,541,313; 5,545,730; 5,552,538; 5,578,717, 5,580,731; 5,580,731; 5,591,584; 5,109,124; 5,118,802; 5,138,045; 5,414,077; 5,486,603; 5,512,439; 5,578,718; 5,608,046; 4,587,044; 4,605,735; 4,667,025; 4,762,779; 4,789,737; 4,824,941; 4,835,263; 4,876,335; 4,904,582; 4,958,013; 5,082,830; 5,112,963; 5,214,136; 5,082,830; 5,112,963; 5,214,136; 5,245,022; 5,254,469; 5,258,506; 5,262,536; 5,272,250; 5,292,873; 5,317,098; 5,371,241, 5,391,723; 5,416,203, 5,451,463; 5,510,475; 5,512,667; 5,514,785; 5,565,552; 5,567,810; 5,574,142; 5,585,481; 5,587,371; 5,595,726; 5,597,696; 5,599,923; 5,599,928 and 5,688,941, certain of which are commonly owned with the instant application, and each of which is herein incorporated by reference.

[0042] It is not necessary for all positions in a given compound to be uniformly modified, and in fact more than one of the aforementioned modifications may be incorporated in a single compound or even at a single nucleoside within an oligonucleotide. The present invention also includes antisense compounds which are chimeric compounds. “Chimeric” antisense compounds or “chimeras,” in the context of this invention, are antisense compounds, particularly oligonucleotides, which contain two or more chemically distinct regions, each made up of at least one monomer unit, i.e., a nucleotide in the case of an oligonucleotide compound. These oligonucleotides typically contain at least one region wherein the oligonucleotide is modified so as to confer upon the oligonucleotide increased resistance to nuclease degradation, increased cellular uptake, and/or increased binding affinity for the target nucleic acid. An additional region of the oligonucleotide may serve as a substrate for enzymes capable of cleaving RNA:DNA or RNA:RNA hybrids. By way of example, RNase H is a cellular endonuclease which cleaves the RNA strand of an RNA:DNA duplex. Activation of RNase H, therefore, results in cleavage of the RNA target, thereby greatly enhancing the efficiency of oligonucleotide inhibition of gene expression. Consequently, comparable results can often be obtained with shorter oligonucleotides when chimeric oligonucleotides are used, compared to phosphorothioate deoxyoligonucleotides hybridizing to the same target region. Cleavage of the RNA target can be routinely detected by gel electrophoresis and, if necessary, associated nucleic acid hybridization techniques known in the art.

[0043] Chimeric antisense compounds of the invention may be formed as composite structures of two or more oligonucleotides, modified oligonucleotides, oligonucleosides and/or oligonucleotide mimetics as described above. Such compounds have also been referred to in the art as hybrids or gapmers. Representative United States patents that teach the preparation of such hybrid structures include, but are not limited to, U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,013,830; 5,149,797; 5,220,007; 5,256,775; 5,366,878; 5,403,711; 5,491,133; 5,565,350; 5,623,065; 5,652,355; 5,652,356; and 5,700,922, certain of which are commonly owned with the instant application, and each of which is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety.

[0044] The antisense compounds used in accordance with this invention may be conveniently and routinely made through the well-known technique of solid phase synthesis. Equipment for such synthesis is sold by several vendors including, for example, Applied Biosystems (Foster City, Calif.). Any other means for such synthesis known in the art may additionally or alternatively be employed. It is well known to use similar techniques to prepare oligonucleotides such as the phosphorothioates and alkylated derivatives.

[0045] The antisense compounds of the invention are synthesized in vitro and do not include antisense compositions of biological origin, or genetic vector constructs designed to direct the in vivo synthesis of antisense molecules. The compounds of the invention may also be admixed, encapsulated, conjugated or otherwise associated with other molecules, molecule structures or mixtures of compounds, as for example, liposomes, receptor targeted molecules, oral, rectal, topical or other formulations, for assisting in uptake, distribution and/or absorption. Representative United States patents that teach the preparation of such uptake, distribution and/or absorption assisting formulations include, but are not limited to, U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,108,921; 5,354,844; 5,416,016; 5,459,127; 5,521,291; 5,543,158; 5,547,932; 5,583,020; 5,591,721; 4,426,330; 4,534,899; 5,013,556; 5,108,921; 5,213,804; 5,227,170; 5,264,221; 5,356,633; 5,395,619; 5,416,016; 5,417,978; 5,462,854; 5,469,854; 5,512,295; 5,527,528; 5,534,259; 5,543,152; 5,556,948; 5,580,575; and 5,595,756, each of which is herein incorporated by reference.

[0046] The antisense compounds of the invention encompass any pharmaceutically acceptable salts, esters, or salts of such esters, or any other compound which, upon administration to an animal including a human, is capable of providing (directly or indirectly) the biologically active metabolite or residue thereof. Accordingly, for example, the disclosure is also drawn to prodrugs and pharmaceutically acceptable salts of the compounds of the invention, pharmaceutically acceptable salts of such prodrugs, and other bioequivalents.

[0047] The term “prodrug” indicates a therapeutic agent that is prepared in an inactive form that is converted to an active form (i.e., drug) within the body or cells thereof by the action of endogenous enzymes or other chemicals and/or conditions. In particular, prodrug versions of the oligonucleotides of the invention are prepared as SATE [(S-acetyl-2-thioethyl) phosphate] derivatives according to the methods disclosed in WO 93/24510 to Gosselin et al., published Dec. 9, 1993 or in WO 94/26764 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,770,713 to Imbach et al.

[0048] The term “pharmaceutically acceptable salts” refers to physiologically and pharmaceutically acceptable salts of the compounds of the invention: i.e., salts that retain the desired biological activity of the parent compound and do not impart undesired toxicological effects thereto.

[0049] Pharmaceutically acceptable base addition salts are formed with metals or amines, such as alkali and alkaline earth metals or organic amines. Examples of metals used as cations are sodium, potassium, magnesium, calcium, and the like. Examples of suitable amines are N,N′-dibenzylethylenediamine, chloroprocaine, choline, diethanolamine, dicyclohexylamine, ethylenediamine, N-methylglucamine, and procaine (see, for example, Berge et al., “Pharmaceutical Salts,” J. of Pharma Sci., 1977, 66, 1-19). The base addition salts of said acidic compounds are prepared by contacting the free acid form with a sufficient amount of the desired base to produce the salt in the conventional manner. The free acid form may be regenerated by contacting the salt form with an acid and isolating the free acid in the conventional manner. The free acid forms differ from their respective salt forms somewhat in certain physical properties such as solubility in polar solvents, but otherwise the salts are equivalent to their respective free acid for purposes of the present invention. As used herein, a “pharmaceutical addition salt” includes a pharmaceutically acceptable salt of an acid form of one of the components of the compositions of the invention. These include organic or inorganic acid salts of the amines. Preferred acid salts are the hydrochlorides, acetates, salicylates, nitrates and phosphates. Other suitable pharmaceutically acceptable salts are well known to those skilled in the art and include basic salts of a variety of inorganic and organic acids, such as, for example, with inorganic acids, such as for example hydrochloric acid, hydrobromic acid, sulfuric acid or phosphoric acid; with organic carboxylic, sulfonic, sulfo or phospho acids or N-substituted sulfamic acids, for example acetic acid, propionic acid, glycolic acid, succinic acid, maleic acid, hydroxymaleic acid, methylmaleic acid, fumaric acid, malic acid, tartaric acid, lactic acid, oxalic acid, gluconic acid, glucaric acid, glucuronic acid, citric acid, benzoic acid, cinnamic acid, mandelic acid, salicylic acid, 4-aminosalicylic acid, 2-phenoxybenzoic acid, 2-acetoxybenzoic acid, embonic acid, nicotinic acid or isonicotinic acid; and with amino acids, such as the 20 alpha-amino acids involved in the synthesis of proteins in nature, for example glutamic acid or aspartic acid, and also with phenylacetic acid, methanesulfonic acid, ethanesulfonic acid, 2-hydroxyethanesulfonic acid, ethane-1,2-disulfonic acid, benzenesulfonic acid, 4-methylbenzenesulfonic acid, naphthalene-2-sulfonic acid, naphthalene-1,5-disulfonic acid, 2- or 3-phosphoglycerate, glucose-6-phosphate, N-cyclohexylsulfamic acid (with the formation of cyclamates), or with other acid organic compounds, such as ascorbic acid. Pharmaceutically acceptable salts of compounds may also be prepared with a pharmaceutically acceptable cation. Suitable pharmaceutically acceptable cations are well known to those skilled in the art and include alkaline, alkaline earth, ammonium and quaternary ammonium cations. Carbonates or hydrogen carbonates are also possible.

[0050] For oligonucleotides, preferred examples of pharmaceutically acceptable salts include but are not limited to (a) salts formed with cations such as sodium, potassium, ammonium, magnesium, calcium, polyamines such as spermine and spermidine, etc.; (b) acid addition salts formed with inorganic acids, for example hydrochloric acid, hydrobromic acid, sulfuric acid, phosphoric acid, nitric acid and the like; (c) salts formed with organic acids such as, for example, acetic acid, oxalic acid, tartaric acid, succinic acid, maleic acid, fumaric acid, gluconic acid, citric acid, malic acid, ascorbic acid, benzoic acid, tannic acid, palmitic acid, alginic acid, polyglutamic acid, naphthalenesulfonic acid, methanesulfonic acid, p-toluenesulfonic acid, naphthalenedisulfonic acid, polygalacturonic acid, and the like; and (d) salts formed from elemental anions such as chlorine, bromine, and iodine.

[0051] The antisense compounds of the present invention can be utilized for diagnostics, therapeutics, prophylaxis and as research reagents and kits. For therapeutics, an animal, preferably a human, suspected of having a disease or disorder which can be treated by modulating the expression of RECQL is treated by administering antisense compounds in accordance with this invention. The compounds of the invention can be utilized in pharmaceutical compositions by adding an effective amount of an antisense compound to a suitable pharmaceutically acceptable diluent or carrier. Use of the antisense compounds and methods of the invention may also be useful prophylactically, e.g., to prevent or delay infection, inflammation or tumor formation, for example.

[0052] The antisense compounds of the invention are useful for research and diagnostics, because these compounds hybridize to nucleic acids encoding RECQL, enabling sandwich and other assays to easily be constructed to exploit this fact. Hybridization of the antisense oligonucleotides of the invention with a nucleic acid encoding RECQL can be detected by means known in the art. Such means may include conjugation of an enzyme to the oligonucleotide, radiolabelling of the oligonucleotide or any other suitable detection means. Kits using such detection means for detecting the level of RECQL in a sample may also be prepared.

[0053] The present invention also includes pharmaceutical compositions and formulations which include the antisense compounds of the invention. The pharmaceutical compositions of the present invention may be administered in a number of ways depending upon whether local or systemic treatment is desired and upon the area to be treated. Administration may be topical (including ophthalmic and to mucous membranes including vaginal and rectal delivery), pulmonary, e.g., by inhalation or insufflation of powders or aerosols, including by nebulizer; intratracheal, intranasal, epidermal and transdermal), oral or parenteral. Parenteral administration includes intravenous, intraarterial, subcutaneous, intraperitoneal or intramuscular injection or infusion; or intracranial, e.g., intrathecal or intraventricular, administration. Oligonucleotides with at least one 2′—O-methoxyethyl modification are believed to be particularly useful for oral administration.

[0054] Pharmaceutical compositions and formulations for topical administration may include transdermal patches, ointments, lotions, creams, gels, drops, suppositories, sprays, liquids and powders. Conventional pharmaceutical carriers, aqueous, powder or oily bases, thickeners and the like may be necessary or desirable. Coated condoms, gloves and the like may also be useful. Preferred topical formulations include those in which the oligonucleotides of the invention are in admixture with a topical delivery agent such as lipids, liposomes, fatty acids, fatty acid esters, steroids, chelating agents and surfactants. Preferred lipids and liposomes include neutral (e.g. dioleoylphosphatidyl DOPE ethanolamine, dimyristoylphosphatidyl choline DMPC, distearolyphosphatidyl choline) negative (e.g. dimyristoylphosphatidyl glycerol DMPG) and cationic (e.g. dioleoyltetramethylaminopropyl DOTAP and dioleoylphosphatidyl ethanolamine DOTMA). Oligonucleotides of the invention may be encapsulated within liposomes or may form complexes thereto, in particular to cationic liposomes. Alternatively, oligonucleotides may be complexed to lipids, in particular to cationic lipids. Preferred fatty acids and esters include but are not limited arachidonic acid, oleic acid, eicosanoic acid, lauric acid, caprylic acid, capric acid, myristic acid, palmitic acid, stearic acid, linoleic acid, linolenic acid, dicaprate, tricaprate, monoolein, dilaurin, glyceryl 1-monocaprate, 1-dodecylazacycloheptan-2-one, an acylcarnitine, an acylcholine, or a C₁₋₁₀ alkyl ester (e.g. isopropylmyristate IPM), monoglyceride, diglyceride or pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof. Topical formulations are described in detail in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/315,298 filed on May 20, 1999 which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

[0055] Compositions and formulations for oral administration include powders or granules, microparticulates, nanoparticulates, suspensions or solutions in water or non-aqueous media, capsules, gel capsules, sachets, tablets or minitablets. Thickeners, flavoring agents, diluents, emulsifiers, dispersing aids or binders may be desirable. Preferred oral formulations are those in which oligonucleotides of the invention are administered in conjunction with one or more penetration enhancers surfactants and chelators. Preferred surfactants include fatty acids and/or esters or salts thereof, bile acids and/or salts thereof. Prefered bile acids/salts include chenodeoxycholic acid (CDCA) and ursodeoxychenodeoxycholic acid (UDCA), cholic acid, dehydrocholic acid, deoxycholic acid, glucholic acid, glycholic acid, glycodeoxycholic acid, taurocholic acid, taurodeoxycholic acid, sodium tauro-24,25-dihydro-fusidate, sodium glycodihydrofusidate. Prefered fatty acids include arachidonic acid, undecanoic acid, oleic acid, lauric acid, caprylic acid, capric acid, myristic acid, palmitic acid, stearic acid, linoleic acid, linolenic acid, dicaprate, tricaprate, monoolein, dilaurin, glyceryl 1-monocaprate, 1-dodecylazacycloheptan-2-one, an acylcarnitine, an acylcholine, or a monoglyceride, a diglyceride or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof (e.g. sodium). Also prefered are combinations of penetration enhancers, for example, fatty acids/salts in combination with bile acids/salts. A particularly prefered combination is the sodium salt of lauric acid, capric acid and UDCA. Further penetration enhancers include polyoxyethylene-9-lauryl ether, polyoxyethylene-20-cetyl ether. Oligonucleotides of the invention may be delivered orally in granular form including sprayed dried particles, or complexed to form micro or nanoparticles. Oligonucleotide complexing agents include poly-amino acids; polyimines; polyacrylates; polyalkylacrylates, polyoxethanes, polyalkylcyanoacrylates; cationized gelatins, albumins, starches, acrylates, polyethyleneglycols (PEG) and starches; polyalkylcyanoacrylates; DEAE-derivatized polyimines, pollulans, celluloses and starches. Particularly preferred complexing agents include chitosan, N-trimethylchitosan, poly-L-lysine, polyhistidine, polyornithine, polyspermines, protamine, polyvinylpyridine, polythiodiethylamino-methylethylene P(TDAE), polyaminostyrene (e.g. p-amino), poly(methylcyanoacrylate), poly(ethylcyanoacrylate), poly(butylcyanoacrylate), poly(isobutylcyanoacrylate), poly(isohexylcynaoacrylate), DEAE-methacrylate, DEAE-hexylacrylate, DEAE-acrylamide, DEAE-albumin and DEAE-dextran, polymethylacrylate, polyhexylacrylate, poly(D,L-lactic acid), poly(DL-lactic-co-glycolic acid (PLGA), alginate, and polyethyleneglycol (PEG). Oral formulations for oligonucleotides and their preparation are described in detail in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/886,829 (filed Jul. 1, 1997), U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/108,673 (filed Jul. 1, 1998), U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/256,515 (filed Feb. 23, 1999), U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/082,624 (filed May 21, 1998) and U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/315,298 (filed May 20, 1999) each of which is incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.

[0056] Compositions and formulations for parenteral, intrathecal or intraventricular administration may include sterile aqueous solutions which may also contain buffers, diluents and other suitable additives such as, but not limited to, penetration enhancers, carrier compounds and other pharmaceutically acceptable carriers or excipients.

[0057] Pharmaceutical compositions of the present invention include, but are not limited to, solutions, emulsions, and liposome-containing formulations. These compositions may be generated from a variety of components that include, but are not limited to, preformed liquids, self-emulsifying solids and self-emulsifying semisolids.

[0058] The pharmaceutical formulations of the present invention, which may conveniently be presented in unit dosage form, may be prepared according to conventional techniques well known in the pharmaceutical industry. Such techniques include the step of bringing into association the active ingredients with the pharmaceutical carrier(s) or excipient(s). In general the formulations are prepared by uniformly and intimately bringing into association the active ingredients with liquid carriers or finely divided solid carriers or both, and then, if necessary, shaping the product.

[0059] The compositions of the present invention may be formulated into any of many possible dosage forms such as, but not limited to, tablets, capsules, gel capsules, liquid syrups, soft gels, suppositories, and enemas. The compositions of the present invention may also be formulated as suspensions in aqueous, non-aqueous or mixed media. Aqueous suspensions may further contain substances which increase the viscosity of the suspension including, for example, sodium carboxymethylcellulose, sorbitol and/or dextran. The suspension may also contain stabilizers.

[0060] In one embodiment of the present invention the pharmaceutical compositions may be formulated and used as foams. Pharmaceutical foams include formulations such as, but not limited to, emulsions, microemulsions, creams, jellies and liposomes. While basically similar in nature these formulations vary in the components and the consistency of the final product. The preparation of such compositions and formulations is generally known to those skilled in the pharmaceutical and formulation arts and may be applied to the formulation of the compositions of the present invention.

[0061] Emulsions

[0062] The compositions of the present invention may be prepared and formulated as emulsions. Emulsions are typically heterogenous systems of one liquid dispersed in another in the form of droplets usually exceeding 0.1 μm in diameter. (Idson, in Pharmaceutical Dosage Forms, Lieberman, Rieger and Banker (Eds.), 1988, Marcel Dekker, Inc., New York, N.Y., volume 1, p. 199; Rosoff, in Pharmaceutical Dosage Forms, Lieberman, Rieger and Banker (Eds.), 1988, Marcel Dekker, Inc., New York, N.Y., Volume 1, p. 245; Block in Pharmaceutical Dosage Forms, Lieberman, Rieger and Banker (Eds.), 1988, Marcel Dekker, Inc., New York, N.Y., volume 2, p. 335; Higuchi et al., in Remington's Pharmaceutical Sciences, Mack Publishing Co., Easton, Pa., 1985, p. 301). Emulsions are often biphasic systems comprising of two immiscible liquid phases intimately mixed and dispersed with each other. In general, emulsions may be either water-in-oil (w/o) or of the oil-in-water (o/w) variety. When an aqueous phase is finely divided into and dispersed as minute droplets into a bulk oily phase the resulting composition is called a water-in-oil (w/o) emulsion. Alternatively, when an oily phase is finely divided into and dispersed as minute droplets into a bulk aqueous phase the resulting composition is called an oil-in-water (o/w) emulsion. Emulsions may contain additional components in addition to the dispersed phases and the active drug which may be present as a solution in either the aqueous phase, oily phase or itself as a separate phase. Pharmaceutical excipients such as emulsifiers, stabilizers, dyes, and anti-oxidants may also be present in emulsions as needed. Pharmaceutical emulsions may also be multiple emulsions that are comprised of more than two phases such as, for example, in the case of oil-in-water-in-oil (o/w/o) and water-in-oil-in-water (w/o/w) emulsions. Such complex formulations often provide certain advantages that simple binary emulsions do not. Multiple emulsions in which individual oil droplets of an o/w emulsion enclose small water droplets constitute a w/o/w emulsion. Likewise a system of oil droplets enclosed in globules of water stabilized in an oily continuous provides an o/w/o emulsion.

[0063] Emulsions are characterized by little or no thermodynamic stability. Often, the dispersed or discontinuous phase of the emulsion is well dispersed into the external or continuous phase and maintained in this form through the means of emulsifiers or the viscosity of the formulation. Either of the phases of the emulsion may be a semisolid or a solid, as is the case of emulsion-style ointment bases and creams. Other means of stabilizing emulsions entail the use of emulsifiers that may be incorporated into either phase of the emulsion. Emulsifiers may broadly be classified into four categories: synthetic surfactants, naturally occurring emulsifiers, absorption bases, and finely dispersed solids (Idson, in Pharmaceutical Dosage Forms, Lieberman, Rieger and Banker (Eds.), 1988, Marcel Dekker, Inc., New York, N.Y., volume 1, p. 199).

[0064] Synthetic surfactants, also known as surface active agents, have found wide applicability in the formulation of emulsions and have been reviewed in the literature (Rieger, in Pharmaceutical Dosage Forms, Lieberman, Rieger and Banker (Eds.), 1988, Marcel Dekker, Inc., New York, N.Y., volume 1, p. 285; Idson, in Pharmaceutical Dosage Forms, Lieberman, Rieger and Banker (Eds.), Marcel Dekker, Inc., New York, N.Y., 1988, volume 1, p. 199). Surfactants are typically amphiphilic and comprise a hydrophilic and a hydrophobic portion. The ratio of the hydrophilic to the hydrophobic nature of the surfactant has been termed the hydrophile/lipophile balance (HLB) and is a valuable tool in categorizing and selecting surfactants in the preparation of formulations. Surfactants may be classified into different classes based on the nature of the hydrophilic group: nonionic, anionic, cationic and amphoteric (Rieger, in Pharmaceutical Dosage Forms, Lieberman, Rieger and Banker (Eds.), 1988, Marcel Dekker, Inc., New York, N.Y., volume 1, p. 285).

[0065] Naturally occurring emulsifiers used in emulsion formulations include lanolin, beeswax, phosphatides, lecithin and acacia. Absorption bases possess hydrophilic properties such that they can soak up water to form w/o emulsions yet retain their semisolid consistencies, such as anhydrous lanolin and hydrophilic petrolatum. Finely divided solids have also been used as good emulsifiers especially in combination with surfactants and in viscous preparations. These include polar inorganic solids, such as heavy metal hydroxides, nonswelling clays such as bentonite, attapulgite, hectorite, kaolin, montmorillonite, colloidal aluminum silicate and colloidal magnesium aluminum silicate, pigments and nonpolar solids such as carbon or glyceryl tristearate.

[0066] A large variety of non-emulsifying materials are also included in emulsion formulations and contribute to the properties of emulsions. These include fats, oils, waxes, fatty acids, fatty alcohols, fatty esters, humectants, hydrophilic colloids, preservatives and antioxidants (Block, in Pharmaceutical Dosage Forms, Lieberman, Rieger and Banker (Eds.), 1988, Marcel Dekker, Inc., New York, N.Y., volume 1, p. 335; Idson, in Pharmaceutical Dosage Forms, Lieberman, Rieger and Banker (Eds.), 1988, Marcel Dekker, Inc., New York, N.Y., volume 1, p. 199).

[0067] Hydrophilic colloids or hydrocolloids include naturally occurring gums and synthetic polymers such as polysaccharides (for example, acacia, agar, alginic acid, carrageenan, guar gum, karaya gum, and tragacanth), cellulose derivatives (for example, carboxymethylcellulose and carboxypropylcellulose), and synthetic polymers (for example, carbomers, cellulose ethers, and carboxyvinyl polymers). These disperse or swell in water to form colloidal solutions that stabilize emulsions by forming strong interfacial films around the dispersed-phase droplets and by increasing the viscosity of the external phase.

[0068] Since emulsions often contain a number of ingredients such as carbohydrates, proteins, sterols and phosphatides that may readily support the growth of microbes, these formulations often incorporate preservatives. Commonly used preservatives included in emulsion formulations include methyl paraben, propyl paraben, quaternary ammonium salts, benzalkonium chloride, esters of p-hydroxybenzoic acid, and boric acid. Antioxidants are also commonly added to emulsion formulations to prevent deterioration of the formulation. Antioxidants used may be free radical scavengers such as tocopherols, alkyl gallates, butylated hydroxyanisole, butylated hydroxytoluene, or reducing agents such as ascorbic acid and sodium metabisulfite, and antioxidant synergists such as citric acid, tartaric acid, and lecithin.

[0069] The application of emulsion formulations via dermatological, oral and parenteral routes and methods for their manufacture have been reviewed in the literature (Idson, in Pharmaceutical Dosage Forms, Lieberman, Rieger and Banker (Eds.), 1988, Marcel Dekker, Inc., New York, N.Y., volume 1, p. 199). Emulsion formulations for oral delivery have been very widely used because of reasons of ease of formulation, efficacy from an absorption and bioavailability standpoint. (Rosoff, in Pharmaceutical Dosage Forms, Lieberman, Rieger and Banker (Eds.), 1988, Marcel Dekker, Inc., New York, N.Y., volume 1, p. 245; Idson, in Pharmaceutical Dosage Forms, Lieberman, Rieger and Banker (Eds.), 1988, Marcel Dekker, Inc., New York, N.Y., volume 1, p. 199). Mineral-oil base laxatives, oil-soluble vitamins and high fat nutritive preparations are among the materials that have commonly been administered orally as o/w emulsions.

[0070] In one embodiment of the present invention, the compositions of oligonucleotides and nucleic acids are formulated as microemulsions. A microemulsion may be defined as a system of water, oil and amphiphile which is a single optically isotropic and thermodynamically stable liquid solution (Rosoff, in Pharmaceutical Dosage Forms, Lieberman, Rieger and Banker (Eds.), 1988, Marcel Dekker, Inc., New York, N.Y., volume 1, p. 245). Typically microemulsions are systems that are prepared by first dispersing an oil in an aqueous surfactant solution and then adding a sufficient amount of a fourth component, generally an intermediate chain-length alcohol to form a transparent system. Therefore, microemulsions have also been described as thermodynamically stable, isotropically clear dispersions of two immiscible liquids that are stabilized by interfacial films of surface-active molecules (Leung and Shah, in: Controlled Release of Drugs: Polymers and Aggregate Systems, Rosoff, M., Ed., 1989, VCH Publishers, New York, pages 185-215). Microemulsions commonly are prepared via a combination of three to five components that include oil, water, surfactant, cosurfactant and electrolyte. Whether the microemulsion is of the water-in-oil (w/o) or an oil-in-water (o/w) type is dependent on the properties of the oil and surfactant used and on the structure and geometric packing of the polar heads and hydrocarbon tails of the surfactant molecules (Schott, in Remington's Pharmaceutical Sciences, Mack Publishing Co., Easton, Pa., 1985, p. 271).

[0071] The phenomenological approach utilizing phase diagrams has been extensively studied and has yielded a comprehensive knowledge, to one skilled in the art, of how to formulate microemulsions (Rosoff, in Pharmaceutical Dosage Forms, Lieberman, Rieger and Banker (Eds.), 1988, Marcel Dekker, Inc., New York, N.Y., volume 1, p. 245; Block, in Pharmaceutical Dosage Forms, Lieberman, Rieger and Banker (Eds.), 1988, Marcel Dekker, Inc., New York, N.Y., volume 1, p. 335). Compared to conventional emulsions, microemulsions offer the advantage of solubilizing water-insoluble drugs in a formulation of thermodynamically stable droplets that are formed spontaneously.

[0072] Surfactants used in the preparation of microemulsions include, but are not limited to, ionic surfactants, non-ionic surfactants, Brij 96, polyoxyethylene oleyl ethers, polyglycerol fatty acid esters, tetraglycerol monolaurate (ML310), tetraglycerol monooleate (MO310), hexaglycerol monooleate (PO310), hexaglycerol pentaoleate (PO500), decaglycerol monocaprate (MCA750), decaglycerol monooleate (MO750), decaglycerol sequioleate (SO750), decaglycerol decaoleate (DAO750), alone or in combination with cosurfactants. The cosurfactant, usually a short-chain alcohol such as ethanol, 1-propanol, and 1-butanol, serves to increase the interfacial fluidity by penetrating into the surfactant film and consequently creating a disordered film because of the void space generated among surfactant molecules. Microemulsions may, however, be prepared without the use of cosurfactants and alcohol-free self-emulsifying microemulsion systems are known in the art. The aqueous phase may typically be, but is not limited to, water, an aqueous solution of the drug, glycerol, PEG300, PEG400, polyglycerols, propylene glycols, and derivatives of ethylene glycol. The oil phase may include, but is not limited to, materials such as Captex 300, Captex 355, Capmul MCM, fatty acid esters, medium chain (C8-C12) mono, di, and tri-glycerides, polyoxyethylated glyceryl fatty acid esters, fatty alcohols, polyglycolized glycerides, saturated polyglycolized C8-C10 glycerides, vegetable oils and silicone oil.

[0073] Microemulsions are particularly of interest from the standpoint of drug solubilization and the enhanced absorption of drugs. Lipid based microemulsions (both o/w and w/o) have been proposed to enhance the oral bioavailability of drugs, including peptides (Constantinides et al., Pharmaceutical Research, 1994, 11, 1385-1390; Ritschel, Meth. Find. Exp. Clin. Pharmacol., 1993, 13, 205). Microemulsions afford advantages of improved drug solubilization, protection of drug from enzymatic hydrolysis, possible enhancement of drug absorption due to surfactant-induced alterations in membrane fluidity and permeability, ease of preparation, ease of oral administration over solid dosage forms, improved clinical potency, and decreased toxicity (Constantinides et al., Pharmaceutical Research, 1994, 11, 1385; Ho et al., J. Pharm. Sci., 1996, 85, 138-143). Often microemulsions may form spontaneously when their components are brought together at ambient temperature. This may be particularly advantageous when formulating thermolabile drugs, peptides or oligonucleotides. Microemulsions have also been effective in the transdermal delivery of active components in both cosmetic and pharmaceutical applications. It is expected that the microemulsion compositions and formulations of the present invention will facilitate the increased systemic absorption of oligonucleotides and nucleic acids from the gastrointestinal tract, as well as improve the local cellular uptake of oligonucleotides and nucleic acids within the gastrointestinal tract, vagina, buccal cavity and other areas of administration.

[0074] Microemulsions of the present invention may also contain additional components and additives such as sorbitan monostearate (Grill 3), Labrasol, and penetration enhancers to improve the properties of the formulation and to enhance the absorption of the oligonucleotides and nucleic acids of the present invention. Penetration enhancers used in the microemulsions of the present invention may be classified as belonging to one of five broad categories—surfactants, fatty acids, bile salts, chelating agents, and non-chelating non-surfactants (Lee et al., Critical Reviews in Therapeutic Drug Carrier Systems, 1991, p. 92). Each of these classes has been discussed above.

[0075] Liposomes

[0076] There are many organized surfactant structures besides microemulsions that have been studied and used for the formulation of drugs. These include monolayers, micelles, bilayers and vesicles. Vesicles, such as liposomes, have attracted great interest because of their specificity and the duration of action they offer from the standpoint of drug delivery. As used in the present invention, the term “liposome” means a vesicle composed of amphiphilic lipids arranged in a spherical bilayer or bilayers.

[0077] Liposomes are unilamellar or multilamellar vesicles which have a membrane formed from a lipophilic material and an aqueous interior. The aqueous portion contains the composition to be delivered. Cationic liposomes possess the advantage of being able to fuse to the cell wall. Non-cationic liposomes, although not able to fuse as efficiently with the cell wall, are taken up by macrophages in vivo.

[0078] In order to cross intact mammalian skin, lipid vesicles must pass through a series of fine pores, each with a diameter less than 50 nm, under the influence of a suitable transdermal gradient. Therefore, it is desirable to use a liposome which is highly deformable and able to pass through such fine pores.

[0079] Further advantages of liposomes include; liposomes obtained from natural phospholipids are biocompatible and biodegradable; liposomes can incorporate a wide range of water and lipid soluble drugs; liposomes can protect encapsulated drugs in their internal compartments from metabolism and degradation (Rosoff, in Pharmaceutical Dosage Forms, Lieberman, Rieger and Banker (Eds.), 1988, Marcel Dekker, Inc., New York, N.Y., volume 1, p. 245). Important considerations in the preparation of liposome formulations are the lipid surface charge, vesicle size and the aqueous volume of the liposomes.

[0080] Liposomes are useful for the transfer and delivery of active ingredients to the site of action. Because the liposomal membrane is structurally similar to biological membranes, when liposomes are applied to a tissue, the liposomes start to merge with the cellular membranes. As the merging of the liposome and cell progresses, the liposomal contents are emptied into the cell where the active agent may act.

[0081] Liposomal formulations have been the focus of extensive investigation as the mode of delivery for many drugs. There is growing evidence that for topical administration, liposomes present several advantages over other formulations. Such advantages include reduced side-effects related to high systemic absorption of the administered drug, increased accumulation of the administered drug at the desired target, and the ability to administer a wide variety of drugs, both hydrophilic and hydrophobic, into the skin.

[0082] Several reports have detailed the ability of liposomes to deliver agents including high-molecular weight DNA into the skin. Compounds including analgesics, antibodies, hormones and high-molecular weight DNAs have been administered to the skin. The majority of applications resulted in the targeting of the upper epidermis.

[0083] Liposomes fall into two broad classes. Cationic liposomes are positively charged liposomes which interact with the negatively charged DNA molecules to form a stable complex. The positively charged DNA/liposome complex binds to the negatively charged cell surface and is internalized in an endosome. Due to the acidic pH within the endosome, the liposomes are ruptured, releasing their contents into the cell cytoplasm (Wang et al., Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun., 1987, 147, 980-985).

[0084] Liposomes which are pH-sensitive or negatively-charged, entrap DNA rather than complex with it. Since both the DNA and the lipid are similarly charged, repulsion rather than complex formation occurs. Nevertheless, some DNA is entrapped within the aqueous interior of these liposomes. pH-sensitive liposomes have been used to deliver DNA encoding the thymidine kinase gene to cell monolayers in culture. Expression of the exogenous gene was detected in the target cells (Zhou et al., Journal of Controlled Release, 1992, 19, 269-274).

[0085] One major type of liposomal composition includes phospholipids other than naturally-derived phosphatidylcholine. Neutral liposome compositions, for example, can be formed from dimyristoyl phosphatidylcholine (DMPC) or dipalmitoyl phosphatidylcholine (DPPC). Anionic liposome compositions generally are formed from dimyristoyl phosphatidylglycerol, while anionic fusogenic liposomes are formed primarily from dioleoyl phosphatidylethanolamine (DOPE). Another type of liposomal composition is formed from phosphatidylcholine (PC) such as, for example, soybean PC, and egg PC. Another type is formed from mixtures of phospholipid and/or phosphatidylcholine and/or cholesterol.

[0086] Several studies have assessed the topical delivery of liposomal drug formulations to the skin. Application of liposomes containing interferon to guinea pig skin resulted in a reduction of skin herpes sores while delivery of interferon via other means (e.g. as a solution or as an emulsion) were ineffective (Weiner et al., Journal of Drug Targeting, 1992, 2, 405-410). Further, an additional study tested the efficacy of interferon administered as part of a liposomal formulation to the administration of interferon using an aqueous system, and concluded that the liposomal formulation was superior to aqueous administration (du Plessis et al., Antiviral Research, 1992, 18, 259-265).

[0087] Non-ionic liposomal systems have also been examined to determine their utility in the delivery of drugs to the skin, in particular systems comprising non-ionic surfactant and cholesterol. Non-ionic liposomal formulations comprising Novasome™ I (glyceryl dilaurate/cholesterol/polyoxyethylene-10-stearyl ether) and Novasome™ II (glyceryl distearate/cholesterol/polyoxyethylene-10-stearyl ether) were used to deliver cyclosporin-A into the dermis of mouse skin. Results indicated that such non-ionic liposomal systems were effective in facilitating the deposition of cyclosporin-A into different layers of the skin (Hu et al. S.T.P.Pharma. Sci., 1994, 4, 6, 466).

[0088] Liposomes also include “sterically stabilized” liposomes, a term which, as used herein, refers to liposomes comprising one or more specialized lipids that, when incorporated into liposomes, result in enhanced circulation lifetimes relative to liposomes lacking such specialized lipids. Examples of sterically stabilized liposomes are those in which part of the vesicle-forming lipid portion of the liposome (A) comprises one or more glycolipids, such as monosialoganglioside G_(M1), or (B) is derivatized with one or more hydrophilic polymers, such as a polyethylene glycol (PEG) moiety. While not wishing to be bound by any particular theory, it is thought in the art that, at least for sterically stabilized liposomes containing gangliosides, sphingomyelin, or PEG-derivatized lipids, the enhanced circulation half-life of these sterically stabilized liposomes derives from a reduced uptake into cells of the reticuloendothelial system (RES) (Allen et al., FEBS Letters, 1987, 223, 42; Wu et al., Cancer Research, 1993, 53, 3765).

[0089] Various liposomes comprising one or more glycolipids are known in the art. Papahadjopoulos et al. (Ann. N.Y. Acad. Sci., 1987, 507, 64) reported the ability of monosialoganglioside G_(M1), galactocerebroside sulfate and phosphatidylinositol to improve blood half-lives of liposomes. These findings were expounded upon by Gabizon et al. (Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A., 1988, 85, 6949). U.S. Pat. No. 4,837,028 and WO 88/04924, both to Allen et al., disclose liposomes comprising (1) sphingomyelin and (2) the ganglioside G_(M1) or a galactocerebroside sulfate ester. U.S. Pat. No. 5,543,152 (Webb et al.) discloses liposomes comprising sphingomyelin. Liposomes comprising 1,2-sn-dimyristoylphosphatidylcholine are disclosed in WO 97/13499 (Lim et al.).

[0090] Many liposomes comprising lipids derivatized with one or more hydrophilic polymers, and methods of preparation thereof, are known in the art. Sunamoto et al. (Bull. Chem. Soc. Jpn., 1980, 53, 2778) described liposomes comprising a nonionic detergent, 2C₁₂15G, that contains a PEG moiety. Illum et al. (FEBS Lett., 1984, 167, 79) noted that hydrophilic coating of polystyrene particles with polymeric glycols results in significantly enhanced blood half-lives. Synthetic phospholipids modified by the attachment of carboxylic groups of polyalkylene glycols (e.g., PEG) are described by Sears (U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,426,330 and 4,534,899). Klibanov et al. (FEBS Lett., 1990, 268, 235) described experiments demonstrating that liposomes comprising phosphatidylethanolamine (PE) derivatized with PEG or PEG stearate have significant increases in blood circulation half-lives. Blume et al. (Biochimica et Biophysica Acta, 1990, 1029, 91) extended such observations to other PEG-derivatized phospholipids, e.g., DSPE-PEG, formed from the combination of distearoylphosphatidylethanolamine (DSPE) and PEG. Liposomes having covalently bound PEG moieties on their external surface are described in European Patent No. EP 0 445 131 B1 and WO 90/04384 to Fisher. Liposome compositions containing 1-20 mole percent of PE derivatized with PEG, and methods of use thereof, are described by Woodle et al. (U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,013,556 and 5,356,633) and Martin et al. (U.S. Pat. No. 5,213,804 and European Patent No. EP 0 496 813 B1). Liposomes comprising a number of other lipid-polymer conjugates are disclosed in WO 91/05545 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,225,212 (both to Martin et al.) and in WO 94/20073 (Zalipsky et al.) Liposomes comprising PEG-modified ceramide lipids are described in WO 96/10391 (Choi et al.). U.S. Pat. No. 5,540,935 (Miyazaki et al.) and U.S. Pat. No. 5,556,948 (Tagawa et al.) describe PEG-containing liposomes that can be further derivatized with functional moieties on their surfaces.

[0091] A limited number of liposomes comprising nucleic acids are known in the art. WO 96/40062 to Thierry et al. discloses methods for encapsulating high molecular weight nucleic acids in liposomes. U.S. Pat. No. 5,264,221 to Tagawa et al. discloses protein-bonded liposomes and asserts that the contents of such liposomes may include an antisense RNA. U.S. Pat. No. 5,665,710 to Rahman et al. describes certain methods of encapsulating oligodeoxynucleotides in liposomes. WO 97/04787 to Love et al. discloses liposomes comprising antisense oligonucleotides targeted to the raf gene.

[0092] Transfersomes are yet another type of liposomes, and are highly deformable lipid aggregates which are attractive candidates for drug delivery vehicles. Transfersomes may be described as lipid droplets which are so highly deformable that they are easily able to penetrate through pores which are smaller than the droplet. Transfersomes are adaptable to the environment in which they are used, e.g. they are self-optimizing (adaptive to the shape of pores in the skin), self-repairing, frequently reach their targets without fragmenting, and often self-loading. To make transfersomes it is possible to add surface edge-activators, usually surfactants, to a standard liposomal composition. Transfersomes have been used to deliver serum albumin to the skin. The transfersome-mediated delivery of serum albumin has been shown to be as effective as subcutaneous injection of a solution containing serum albumin.

[0093] Surfactants find wide application in formulations such as emulsions (including microemulsions) and liposomes. The most common way of classifying and ranking the properties of the many different types of surfactants, both natural and synthetic, is by the use of the hydrophile/lipophile balance (HLB). The nature of the hydrophilic group (also known as the “head”) provides the most useful means for categorizing the different surfactants used in formulations (Rieger, in Pharmaceutical Dosage Forms, Marcel Dekker, Inc., New York, N.Y., 1988, p. 285).

[0094] If the surfactant molecule is not ionized, it is classified as a nonionic surfactant. Nonionic surfactants find wide application in pharmaceutical and cosmetic products and are usable over a wide range of pH values. In general their HLB values range from 2 to about 18 depending on their structure. Nonionic surfactants include nonionic esters such as ethylene glycol esters, propylene glycol esters, glyceryl esters, polyglyceryl esters, sorbitan esters, sucrose esters, and ethoxylated esters. Nonionic alkanolamides and ethers such as fatty alcohol ethoxylates, propoxylated alcohols, and ethoxylated/propoxylated block polymers are also included in this class. The polyoxyethylene surfactants are the most popular members of the nonionic surfactant class.

[0095] If the surfactant molecule carries a negative charge when it is dissolved or dispersed in water, the surfactant is classified as anionic. Anionic surfactants include carboxylates such as soaps, acyl lactylates, acyl amides of amino acids, esters of sulfuric acid such as alkyl sulfates and ethoxylated alkyl sulfates, sulfonates such as alkyl benzene sulfonates, acyl isethionates, acyl taurates and sulfosuccinates, and phosphates. The most important members of the anionic surfactant class are the alkyl sulfates and the soaps.

[0096] If the surfactant molecule carries a positive charge when it is dissolved or dispersed in water, the surfactant is classified as cationic. Cationic surfactants include quaternary ammonium salts and ethoxylated amines. The quaternary ammonium salts are the most used members of this class.

[0097] If the surfactant molecule has the ability to carry either a positive or negative charge, the surfactant is classified as amphoteric. Amphoteric surfactants include acrylic acid derivatives, substituted alkylamides, N-alkylbetaines and phosphatides.

[0098] The use of surfactants in drug products, formulations and in emulsions has been reviewed (Rieger, in Pharmaceutical Dosage Forms, Marcel Dekker, Inc., New York, N.Y., 1988, p. 285).

[0099] Penetration Enhancers

[0100] In one embodiment, the present invention employs various penetration enhancers to effect the efficient delivery of nucleic acids, particularly oligonucleotides, to the skin of animals. Most drugs are present in solution in both ionized and nonionized forms. However, usually only lipid soluble or lipophilic drugs readily cross cell membranes. It has been discovered that even non-lipophilic drugs may cross cell membranes if the membrane to be crossed is treated with a penetration enhancer. In addition to aiding the diffusion of non-lipophilic drugs across cell membranes, penetration enhancers also enhance the permeability of lipophilic drugs.

[0101] Penetration enhancers may be classified as belonging to one of five broad categories, i.e., surfactants, fatty acids, bile salts, chelating agents, and non-chelating non-surfactants (Lee et al., Critical Reviews in Therapeutic Drug Carrier Systems, 1991, p.92). Each of the above mentioned classes of penetration enhancers are described below in greater detail.

[0102] Surfactants: In connection with the present invention, surfactants (or “surface-active agents”) are chemical entities which, when dissolved in an aqueous solution, reduce the surface tension of the solution or the interfacial tension between the aqueous solution and another liquid, with the result that absorption of oligonucleotides through the mucosa is enhanced. In addition to bile salts and fatty acids, these penetration enhancers include, for example, sodium lauryl sulfate, polyoxyethylene-9-lauryl ether and polyoxyethylene-20-cetyl ether) (Lee et al., Critical Reviews in Therapeutic Drug Carrier Systems, 1991, p.92); and perfluorochemical emulsions, such as FC-43. Takahashi et al., J. Pharm. Pharmacol., 1988, 40, 252).

[0103] Fatty acids: Various fatty acids and their derivatives which act as penetration enhancers include, for example, oleic acid, lauric acid, capric acid (n-decanoic acid), myristic acid, palmitic acid, stearic acid, linoleic acid, linolenic acid, dicaprate, tricaprate, monoolein (1-monooleoyl-rac-glycerol), dilaurin, caprylic acid, arachidonic acid, glycerol 1-monocaprate, 1-dodecylazacycloheptan-2-one, acylcarnitines, acylcholines, C₁₋₁₀ alkyl esters thereof (e.g., methyl, isopropyl and t-butyl), and mono- and di-glycerides thereof (i.e., oleate, laurate, caprate, myristate, palmitate, stearate, linoleate, etc.) (Lee et al., Critical Reviews in Therapeutic Drug Carrier Systems, 1991, p.92; Muranishi, Critical Reviews in Therapeutic Drug Carrier Systems, 1990, 7, 1-33; E1 Hariri et al., J. Pharm. Pharmacol., 1992, 44, 651-654).

[0104] Bile salts: The physiological role of bile includes the facilitation of dispersion and absorption of lipids and fat-soluble vitamins (Brunton, Chapter 38 in: Goodman & Gilman's The Pharmacological Basis of Therapeutics, 9th Ed., Hardman et al. Eds., McGraw-Hill, New York, 1996, pp. 934-935). Various natural bile salts, and their synthetic derivatives, act as penetration enhancers. Thus the term “bile salts” includes any of the naturally occurring components of bile as well as any of their synthetic derivatives. The bile salts of the invention include, for example, cholic acid (or its pharmaceutically acceptable sodium salt, sodium cholate), dehydrocholic acid (sodium dehydrocholate), deoxycholic acid (sodium deoxycholate), glucholic acid (sodium glucholate), glycholic acid (sodium glycocholate), glycodeoxycholic acid (sodium glycodeoxycholate), taurocholic acid (sodium taurocholate), taurodeoxycholic acid (sodium taurodeoxycholate), chenodeoxycholic acid (sodium chenodeoxycholate), ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA), sodium tauro-24,25-dihydro-fusidate (STDHF), sodium glycodihydrofusidate and polyoxyethylene-9-lauryl ether (POE) (Lee et al., Critical Reviews in Therapeutic Drug Carrier Systems, 1991, page 92; Swinyard, Chapter 39 In: Remington's Pharmaceutical Sciences, 18th Ed., Gennaro, ed., Mack Publishing Co., Easton, Pa., 1990, pages 782-783; Muranishi, Critical Reviews in Therapeutic Drug Carrier Systems, 1990, 7, 1-33; Yamamoto et al., J. Pharm. Exp. Ther., 1992, 263, 25; Yamashita et al., J. Pharm. Sci., 1990, 79, 579-583).

[0105] Chelating Agents: Chelating agents, as used in connection with the present invention, can be defined as compounds that remove metallic ions from solution by forming complexes therewith, with the result that absorption of oligonucleotides through the mucosa is enhanced. With regards to their use as penetration enhancers in the present invention, chelating agents have the added advantage of also serving as DNase inhibitors, as most characterized DNA nucleases require a divalent metal ion for catalysis and are thus inhibited by chelating agents (Jarrett, J. Chromatogr., 1993, 618, 315-339). Chelating agents of the invention include but are not limited to disodium ethylenediaminetetraacetate (EDTA), citric acid, salicylates (e.g., sodium salicylate, 5-methoxysalicylate and homovanilate), N-acyl derivatives of collagen, laureth-9 and N-amino acyl derivatives of beta-diketones (enamines)(Lee et al., Critical Reviews in Therapeutic Drug Carrier Systems, 1991, page 92; Muranishi, Critical Reviews in Therapeutic Drug Carrier Systems, 1990, 7, 1-33; Buur et al., J. Control Rel., 1990, 14, 43-51).

[0106] Non-chelating non-surfactants: As used herein, non-chelating non-surfactant penetration enhancing compounds can be defined as compounds that demonstrate insignificant activity as chelating agents or as surfactants but that nonetheless enhance absorption of oligonucleotides through the alimentary mucosa (Muranishi, Critical Reviews in Therapeutic Drug Carrier Systems, 1990, 7, 1-33). This class of penetration enhancers include, for example, unsaturated cyclic ureas, 1-alkyl- and 1-alkenylazacyclo-alkanone derivatives (Lee et al., Critical Reviews in Therapeutic Drug Carrier Systems, 1991, page 92); and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agents such as diclofenac sodium, indomethacin and phenylbutazone (Yamashita et al., J. Pharm. Pharmacol., 1987, 39, 621-626).

[0107] Agents that enhance uptake of oligonucleotides at the cellular level may also be added to the pharmaceutical and other compositions of the present invention. For example, cationic lipids, such as lipofectin (Junichi et al, U.S. Pat. No. 5,705,188), cationic glycerol derivatives, and polycationic molecules, such as polylysine (Lollo et al., PCT Application WO 97/30731), are also known to enhance the cellular uptake of oligonucleotides.

[0108] Other agents may be utilized to enhance the penetration of the administered nucleic acids, including glycols such as ethylene glycol and propylene glycol, pyrrols such as 2-pyrrol, azones, and terpenes such as limonene and menthone.

[0109] Carriers

[0110] Certain compositions of the present invention also incorporate carrier compounds in the formulation. As used herein, “carrier compound” or “carrier” can refer to a nucleic acid, or analog thereof, which is inert (i.e., does not possess biological activity per se) but is recognized as a nucleic acid by in vivo processes that reduce the bioavailability of a nucleic acid having biological activity by, for example, degrading the biologically active nucleic acid or promoting its removal from circulation. The coadministration of a nucleic acid and a carrier compound, typically with an excess of the latter substance, can result in a substantial reduction of the amount of nucleic acid recovered in the liver, kidney or other extracirculatory reservoirs, presumably due to competition between the carrier compound and the nucleic acid for a common receptor. For example, the recovery of a partially phosphorothioate oligonucleotide in hepatic tissue can be reduced when it is coadministered with polyinosinic acid, dextran sulfate, polycytidic acid or 4-acetamido-4′isothiocyano-stilbene-2,2′-disulfonic acid (Miyao et al., Antisense Res. Dev., 1995, 5, 115-121; Takakura et al., Antisense & Nucl. Acid Drug Dev., 1996, 6, 177-183).

[0111] Excipients

[0112] In contrast to a carrier compound, a “pharmaceutical carrier” or “excipient” is a pharmaceutically acceptable solvent, suspending agent or any other pharmacologically inert vehicle for delivering one or more nucleic acids to an animal. The excipient may be liquid or solid and is selected, with the planned manner of administration in mind, so as to provide for the desired bulk, consistency, etc., when combined with a nucleic acid and the other components of a given pharmaceutical composition. Typical pharmaceutical carriers include, but are not limited to, binding agents (e.g., pregelatinized maize starch, polyvinylpyrrolidone or hydroxypropyl methylcellulose, etc.); fillers (e.g., lactose and other sugars, microcrystalline cellulose, pectin, gelatin, calcium sulfate, ethyl cellulose, polyacrylates or calcium hydrogen phosphate, etc.); lubricants (e.g., magnesium stearate, talc, silica, colloidal silicon dioxide, stearic acid, metallic stearates, hydrogenated vegetable oils, corn starch, polyethylene glycols, sodium benzoate, sodium acetate, etc.); disintegrants (e.g., starch, sodium starch glycolate, etc.); and wetting agents (e.g., sodium lauryl sulphate, etc.).

[0113] Pharmaceutically acceptable organic or inorganic excipient suitable for non-parenteral administration which do not deleteriously react with nucleic acids can also be used to formulate the compositions of the present invention. Suitable pharmaceutically acceptable carriers include, but are not limited to, water, salt solutions, alcohols, polyethylene glycols, gelatin, lactose, amylose, magnesium stearate, talc, silicic acid, viscous paraffin, hydroxymethylcellulose, polyvinylpyrrolidone and the like.

[0114] Formulations for topical administration of nucleic acids may include sterile and non-sterile aqueous solutions, non-aqueous solutions in common solvents such as alcohols, or solutions of the nucleic acids in liquid or solid oil bases. The solutions may also contain buffers, diluents and other suitable additives. Pharmaceutically acceptable organic or inorganic excipients suitable for non-parenteral administration which do not deleteriously react with nucleic acids can be used.

[0115] Suitable pharmaceutically acceptable excipients include, but are not limited to, water, salt solutions, alcohol, polyethylene glycols, gelatin, lactose, amylose, magnesium stearate, talc, silicic acid, viscous paraffin, hydroxymethylcellulose, polyvinylpyrrolidone and the like.

[0116] Other Components

[0117] The compositions of the present invention may additionally contain other adjunct components conventionally found in pharmaceutical compositions, at their art-established usage levels. Thus, for example, the compositions may contain additional, compatible, pharmaceutically-active materials such as, for example, antipruritics, astringents, local anesthetics or anti-inflammatory agents, or may contain additional materials useful in physically formulating various dosage forms of the compositions of the present invention, such as dyes, flavoring agents, preservatives, antioxidants, opacifiers, thickening agents and stabilizers. However, such materials, when added, should not unduly interfere with the biological activities of the components of the compositions of the present invention. The formulations can be sterilized and, if desired, mixed with auxiliary agents, e.g., lubricants, preservatives, stabilizers, wetting agents, emulsifiers, salts for influencing osmotic pressure, buffers, colorings, flavorings and/or aromatic substances and the like which do not deleteriously interact with the nucleic acid(s) of the formulation.

[0118] Aqueous suspensions may contain substances which increase the viscosity of the suspension including, for example, sodium carboxymethylcellulose, sorbitol and/or dextran. The suspension may also contain stabilizers.

[0119] Certain embodiments of the invention provide pharmaceutical compositions containing (a) one or more antisense compounds and (b) one or more other chemotherapeutic agents which function by a non-antisense mechanism. Examples of such chemotherapeutic agents include but are not limited to daunorubicin, daunomycin, dactinomycin, doxorubicin, epirubicin, idarubicin, esorubicin, bleomycin, mafosfamide, ifosfamide, cytosine arabinoside, bis-chloroethylnitrosurea, busulfan, mitomycin C, actinomycin D, mithramycin, prednisone, hydroxyprogesterone, testosterone, tamoxifen, dacarbazine, procarbazine, hexamethylmelamine, pentamethylmelamine, mitoxantrone, amsacrine, chlorambucil, methylcyclohexylnitrosurea, nitrogen mustards, melphalan, cyclophosphamide, 6-mercaptopurine, 6-thioguanine, cytarabine, 5-azacytidine, hydroxyurea, deoxycoformycin, 4-hydroxyperoxycyclophosphoramide, 5-fluorouracil (5-FU), 5-fluorodeoxyuridine (5-FUdR), methotrexate (MTX), colchicine, taxol, vincristine, vinblastine, etoposide (VP-16), trimetrexate, irinotecan, topotecan, gemcitabine, teniposide, cisplatin and diethylstilbestrol (DES). See, generally, The Merck Manual of Diagnosis and Therapy, 15th Ed. 1987, pp. 1206-1228, Berkow et al., eds., Rahway, N.J. When used with the compounds of the invention, such chemotherapeutic agents may be used individually (e.g., 5-FU and oligonucleotide), sequentially (e.g., 5-FU and oligonucleotide for a period of time followed by MTX and oligonucleotide), or in combination with one or more other such chemotherapeutic agents (e.g., 5-FU, MTX and oligonucleotide, or 5-FU, radiotherapy and oligonucleotide). Anti-inflammatory drugs, including but not limited to nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and corticosteroids, and antiviral drugs, including but not limited to ribivirin, vidarabine, acyclovir and ganciclovir, may also be combined in compositions of the invention. See, generally, The Merck Manual of Diagnosis and Therapy, 15th Ed., Berkow et al., eds., 1987, Rahway, N.J., pages 2499-2506 and 46-49, respectively). Other non-antisense chemotherapeutic agents are also within the scope of this invention. Two or more combined compounds may be used together or sequentially.

[0120] In another related embodiment, compositions of the invention may contain one or more antisense compounds, particularly oligonucleotides, targeted to a first nucleic acid and one or more additional antisense compounds targeted to a second nucleic acid target. Numerous examples of antisense compounds are known in the art. Two or more combined compounds may be used together or sequentially.

[0121] The formulation of therapeutic compositions and their subsequent administration is believed to be within the skill of those in the art. Dosing is dependent on severity and responsiveness of the disease state to be treated, with the course of treatment lasting from several days to several months, or until a cure is effected or a diminution of the disease state is achieved. Optimal dosing schedules can be calculated from measurements of drug accumulation in the body of the patient. Persons of ordinary skill can easily determine optimum dosages, dosing methodologies and repetition rates. Optimum dosages may vary depending on the relative potency of individual oligonucleotides, and can generally be estimated based on EC₅₀s found to be effective in in vitro and in vivo animal models. In general, dosage is from 0.01 ug to 100 g per kg of body weight, and may be given once or more daily, weekly, monthly or yearly, or even once every 2 to 20 years. Persons of ordinary skill in the art can easily estimate repetition rates for dosing based on measured residence times and concentrations of the drug in bodily fluids or tissues. Following successful treatment, it may be desirable to have the patient undergo maintenance therapy to prevent the recurrence of the disease state, wherein the oligonucleotide is administered in maintenance doses, ranging from 0.01 ug to 100 g per kg of body weight, once or more daily, to once every 20 years.

[0122] While the present invention has been described with specificity in accordance with certain of its preferred embodiments, the following examples serve only to illustrate the invention and are not intended to limit the same.

EXAMPLES Example 1

[0123] Nucleoside Phosphoramidites for Oligonucleotide Synthesis Deoxy and 2′-alkoxy Amidites

[0124] 2′-Deoxy and 2′-methoxy beta-cyanoethyldiisopropyl phosphoramidites were purchased from commercial sources (e.g. Chemgenes, Needham Mass. or Glen Research, Inc. Sterling Va.). Other 2′-O-alkoxy substituted nucleoside amidites are prepared as described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,506,351, herein incorporated by reference. For oligonucleotides synthesized using 2′-alkoxy amidites, the standard cycle for unmodified oligonucleotides was utilized, except the wait step after pulse delivery of tetrazole and base was increased to 360 seconds.

[0125] Oligonucleotides containing 5-methyl-2′-deoxycytidine (5-Me-C) nucleotides were synthesized according to published methods [Sanghvi, et. al., Nucleic Acids Research, 1993, 21, 3197-3203] using commercially available phosphoramidites (Glen Research, Sterling Va. or ChemGenes, Needham Mass.).

[0126] 2′-Fluoro Amidites

[0127] 2′-Fluorodeoxyadenosine Amidites

[0128] 2′-fluoro oligonucleotides were synthesized as described previously [Kawasaki, et. al., J. Med. Chem., 1993, 36, 831-841] and U.S. Pat. No. 5,670,633, herein incorporated by reference. Briefly, the protected nucleoside N6-benzoyl-2′-deoxy-2′-fluoroadenosine was synthesized utilizing commercially available 9-beta-D-arabinofuranosyladenine as starting material and by modifying literature procedures whereby the 2′-alpha-fluoro atom is introduced by a S_(N)2-displacement of a 2′-beta-trityl group. Thus N6-benzoyl-9-beta-D-arabinofuranosyladenine was selectively protected in moderate yield as the 3′,5′-ditetrahydropyranyl (THP) intermediate. Deprotection of the THP and N6-benzoyl groups was accomplished using standard methodologies and standard methods were used to obtain the 5′-dimethoxytrityl-(DMT) and 5′-DMT-3′-phosphoramidite intermediates.

[0129] 2′-Fluorodeoxyguanosine

[0130] The synthesis of 2′-deoxy-2′-fluoroguanosine was accomplished using tetraisopropyldisiloxanyl (TPDS) protected 9-beta-D-arabinofuranosylguanine as starting material, and conversion to the intermediate diisobutyryl-arabinofuranosylguanosine. Deprotection of the TPDS group was followed by protection of the hydroxyl group with THP to give diisobutyryl di-THP protected arabinofuranosylguanine. Selective O-deacylation and triflation was followed by treatment of the crude product with fluoride, then deprotection of the THP groups. Standard methodologies were used to obtain the 5′-DMT- and 5′-DMT-3′-phosphoramidites.

[0131] 2′-Fluorouridine

[0132] Synthesis of 2′-deoxy-2′-fluorouridine was accomplished by the modification of a literature procedure in which 2,2′-anhydro-1-beta-D-arabinofuranosyluracil was treated with 70% hydrogen fluoride-pyridine. Standard procedures were used to obtain the 5′-DMT and 5′-DMT-3′phosphoramidites.

[0133] 2′-Fluorodeoxycytidine

[0134] 2′-deoxy-2′-fluorocytidine was synthesized via amination of 2′-deoxy-2′-fluorouridine, followed by selective protection to give N4-benzoyl-2′-deoxy-2′-fluorocytidine. Standard procedures were used to obtain the 5′-DMT and 5′-DMT-3′phosphoramidites.

[0135] 2′-O-(2-Methoxyethyl) Modified Amidites

[0136] 2′-O-Methoxyethyl-substituted nucleoside amidites are prepared as follows, or alternatively, as per the methods of Martin, P., Helvetica Chimica Acta, 1995, 78, 486-504.

[0137] 2,2′-Anhydro[1-(beta-D-arabinofuranosyl)-5-methyluridine]

[0138] 5-Methyluridine (ribosylthymine, commercially available through Yamasa, Choshi, Japan) (72.0 g, 0.279 M), diphenyl-carbonate (90.0 g, 0.420 M) and sodium bicarbonate (2.0 g, 0.024 M) were added to DMF (300 mL). The mixture was heated to reflux, with stirring, allowing the evolved carbon dioxide gas to be released in a controlled manner. After 1 hour, the slightly darkened solution was concentrated under reduced pressure. The resulting syrup was poured into diethylether (2.5 L), with stirring. The product formed a gum. The ether was decanted and the residue was dissolved in a minimum amount of methanol (ca. 400 mL). The solution was poured into fresh ether (2.5 L) to yield a stiff gum. The ether was decanted and the gum was dried in a vacuum oven (60° C. at 1 mm Hg for 24 h) to give a solid that was crushed to a light tan powder (57 g, 85% crude yield). The NMR spectrum was consistent with the structure, contaminated with phenol as its sodium salt (ca. 5%). The material was used as is for further reactions (or it can be purified further by column chromatography using a gradient of methanol in ethyl acetate (10-25%) to give a white solid, mp 222-4° C.).

[0139] 2′-O-Methoxyethyl-5-methyluridine

[0140] 2,2′-Anhydro-5-methyluridine (195 g, 0.81 M), tris(2-methoxyethyl)borate (231 g, 0.98 M) and 2-methoxyethanol (1.2 L) were added to a 2 L stainless steel pressure vessel and placed in a pre-heated oil bath at 160° C. After heating for 48 hours at 155-160° C., the vessel was opened and the solution evaporated to dryness and triturated with MeOH (200 mL). The residue was suspended in hot acetone (1 L). The insoluble salts were filtered, washed with acetone (150 mL) and the filtrate evaporated. The residue (280 g) was dissolved in CH₃CN (600 mL) and evaporated. A silica gel column (3 kg) was packed in CH₂Cl₂/acetone/MeOH (20:5:3) containing 0.5% Et₃NH. The residue was dissolved in CH₂Cl₂ (250 mL) and adsorbed onto silica (150 g) prior to loading onto the column. The product was eluted with the packing solvent to give 160 g (63%) of product. Additional material was obtained by reworking impure fractions.

[0141] 2′-O-Methoxyethyl-5′-O-dimethoxytrityl-5-methyluridine

[0142] 2′-O-Methoxyethyl-5-methyluridine (160 g, 0.506 M) was co-evaporated with pyridine (250 mL) and the dried residue dissolved in pyridine (1.3 L). A first aliquot of dimethoxytrityl chloride (94.3 g, 0.278 M) was added and the mixture stirred at room temperature for one hour. A second aliquot of dimethoxytrityl chloride (94.3 g, 0.278 M) was added and the reaction stirred for an additional one hour. Methanol (170 mL) was then added to stop the reaction. HPLC showed the presence of approximately 70% product. The solvent was evaporated and triturated with CH₃CN (200 mL). The residue was dissolved in CHCl₃ (1.5 L) and extracted with 2×500 mL of saturated NaHCO₃ and 2×500 mL of saturated NaCl. The organic phase was dried over Na₂SO₄, filtered and evaporated. 275 g of residue was obtained. The residue was purified on a 3.5 kg silica gel column, packed and eluted with EtOAc/hexane/acetone (5:5:1) containing 0.5% Et₃NH. The pure fractions were evaporated to give 164 g of product. Approximately 20 g additional was obtained from the impure fractions to give a total yield of 183 g (57%).

[0143] 3′-O-Acetyl-2′-O-methoxyethyl-5′-O-dimethoxytrityl-5-methyluridine

[0144] 2′-O-Methoxyethyl-5′-O-dimethoxytrityl-5-methyluridine (106 g, 0.167 M), DMF/pyridine (750 mL of a 3:1 mixture prepared from 562 mL of DMF and 188 mL of pyridine) and acetic anhydride (24.38 mL, 0.258 M) were combined and stirred at room temperature for 24 hours. The reaction was monitored by TLC by first quenching the TLC sample with the addition of MeOH. Upon completion of the reaction, as judged by TLC, MeOH (50 mL) was added and the mixture evaporated at 35° C. The residue was dissolved in CHCl₃ (800 mL) and extracted with 2×200 mL of saturated sodium bicarbonate and 2×200 mL of saturated NaCl. The water layers were back extracted with 200 mL of CHCl₃. The combined organics were dried with sodium sulfate and evaporated to give 122 g of residue (approx. 90% product). The residue was purified on a 3.5 kg silica gel column and eluted using EtOAc/hexane(4:1). Pure product fractions were evaporated to yield 96 g (84%). An additional 1.5 g was recovered from later fractions.

[0145] 3′-O-Acetyl-2′-O-methoxyethyl-5′-O-dimethoxytrityl-5-methyl-4-triazoleuridine

[0146] A first solution was prepared by dissolving 3′-O-acetyl-2′-O-methoxyethyl-5′-O-dimethoxytrityl-5-methyluridine (96 g, 0.144 M) in CH₃CN (700 mL) and set aside. Triethylamine (189 mL, 1.44 M) was added to a solution of triazole (90 g, 1.3 M) in CH₃CN (1 L), cooled to −5° C. and stirred for 0.5 h using an overhead stirrer. POCl₃ was added dropwise, over a 30 minute period, to the stirred solution maintained at 0-10° C., and the resulting mixture stirred for an additional 2 hours. The first solution was added dropwise, over a 45 minute period, to the latter solution. The resulting reaction mixture was stored overnight in a cold room. Salts were filtered from the reaction mixture and the solution was evaporated. The residue was dissolved in EtOAc (1 L) and the insoluble solids were removed by filtration. The filtrate was washed with 1×300 mL of NaHCO₃ and 2×300 mL of saturated NaCl, dried over sodium sulfate and evaporated. The residue was triturated with EtOAc to give the title compound.

[0147] 2′-O-Methoxyethyl-5′-O-dimethoxytrityl-5-methylcytidine

[0148] A solution of 3′-O-acetyl-2′-O-methoxyethyl-5′-O-dimethoxytrityl-5-methyl-4-triazoleuridine (103 g, 0.141 M) in dioxane (500 mL) and NH₄OH (30 mL) was stirred at room temperature for 2 hours. The dioxane solution was evaporated and the residue azeotroped with MeOH (2×200 mL). The residue was dissolved in MeOH (300 mL) and transferred to a 2 liter stainless steel pressure vessel. MeOH (400 mL) saturated with NH₃ gas was added and the vessel heated to 100° C. for 2 hours (TLC showed complete conversion). The vessel contents were evaporated to dryness and the residue was dissolved in EtOAc (500 mL) and washed once with saturated NaCl (200 mL). The organics were dried over sodium sulfate and the solvent was evaporated to give 85 g (95%) of the title compound.

[0149] N4-Benzoyl-2′-O-methoxyethyl-5′-O-dimethoxytrityl-5-methylcytidine

[0150] 2′-O-Methoxyethyl-5′-O-dimethoxytrityl-5-methylcytidine (85 g, 0.134 M) was dissolved in DMF (800 mL) and benzoic anhydride (37.2 g, 0.165 M) was added with stirring. After stirring for 3 hours, TLC showed the reaction to be approximately 95% complete. The solvent was evaporated and the residue azeotroped with MeOH (200 mL). The residue was dissolved in CHCl₃ (700 mL) and extracted with saturated NaHCO₃ (2×300 mL) and saturated NaCl (2×300 mL), dried over MgSO₄ and evaporated to give a residue (96 g). The residue was chromatographed on a 1.5 kg silica column using EtOAc/hexane (1:1) containing 0.5% Et₃NH as the eluting solvent. The pure product fractions were evaporated to give 90 g (90%) of the title compound.

[0151] N4-Benzoyl-2′-O-methoxyethyl-5′-O-dimethoxytrityl-5-methylcytidine-3′-amidite

[0152] N4-Benzoyl-2′-O-methoxyethyl-5′-O-dimethoxytrityl-5-methylcytidine (74 g, 0.10 M) was dissolved in CH₂Cl₂ (1 L). Tetrazole diisopropylamine (7.1 g) and 2-cyanoethoxy-tetra-(isopropyl)phosphite (40.5 mL, 0.123 M) were added with stirring, under a nitrogen atmosphere. The resulting mixture was stirred for 20 hours at room temperature (TLC showed the reaction to be 95% complete). The reaction mixture was extracted with saturated NaHCO₃ (1×300 mL) and saturated NaCl (3×300 mL). The aqueous washes were back-extracted with CH₂Cl₂ (300 mL), and the extracts were combined, dried over MgSO₄ and concentrated. The residue obtained was chromatographed on a 1.5 kg silica column using EtOAc/hexane (3:1) as the eluting solvent. The pure fractions were combined to give 90.6 g (87%) of the title compound.

[0153] 2′-O-(Aminooxyethyl) nucleoside amidites and 2′-O-(dimethylaminooxyethyl) nucleoside amidites

[0154] 2′-(Dimethylaminooxyethoxy) nucleoside amidites

[0155] 2′-(Dimethylaminooxyethoxy) nucleoside amidites [also known in the art as 2′-O-(dimethylaminooxyethyl) nucleoside amidites] are prepared as described in the following paragraphs. Adenosine, cytidine and guanosine nucleoside amidites are prepared similarly to the thymidine (5-methyluridine) except the exocyclic amines are protected with a benzoyl moiety in the case of adenosine and cytidine and with isobutyryl in the case of guanosine.

[0156] 5′-O-tert-Butyldiphenylsilyl-O²-2′-anhydro-5-methyluridine

[0157] O²-2′-anhydro-5-methyluridine (Pro. Bio. Sint., Varese, Italy, 100.0 g, 0.416 mmol), dimethylaminopyridine (0.66 g, 0.013 eq, 0.0054 mmol) were dissolved in dry pyridine (500 ml) at ambient temperature under an argon atmosphere and with mechanical stirring. tert-Butyldiphenylchlorosilane (125.8 g, 119.0 mL, 1.1 eq, 0.458 mmol) was added in one portion. The reaction was stirred for 16 h at ambient temperature. TLC (Rf 0.22, ethyl acetate) indicated a complete reaction. The solution was concentrated under reduced pressure to a thick oil. This was partitioned between dichloromethane (1 L) and saturated sodium bicarbonate (2×1 L) and brine (1 L). The organic layer was dried over sodium sulfate and concentrated under reduced pressure to a thick oil. The oil was dissolved in a 1:1 mixture of ethyl acetate and ethyl ether (600 mL) and the solution was cooled to −10° C. The resulting crystalline product was collected by filtration, washed with ethyl ether (3×200 mL) and dried (40° C., 1 mm Hg, 24 h) to 149 g (74.8%) of white solid. TLC and NMR were consistent with pure product.

[0158] 5′-O-tert-Butyldiphenylsilyl-2′-O-(2-hydroxyethyl)-5-methyluridine

[0159] In a 2 L stainless steel, unstirred pressure reactor was added borane in tetrahydrofuran (1.0 M, 2.0 eq, 622 mL). In the fume hood and with manual stirring, ethylene glycol (350 mL, excess) was added cautiously at first until the evolution of hydrogen gas subsided. 5′-O-tert-Butyldiphenylsilyl-O²-2′-anhydro-5-methyluridine (149 g, 0.311 mol) and sodium bicarbonate (0.074 g, 0.003 eq) were added with manual stirring. The reactor was sealed and heated in an oil bath until an internal temperature of 160° C. was reached and then maintained for 16 h (pressure<100 psig). The reaction vessel was cooled to ambient and opened. TLC (Rf 0.67 for desired product and Rf 0.82 for ara-T side product, ethyl acetate) indicated about 70% conversion to the product. In order to avoid additional side product formation, the reaction was stopped, concentrated under reduced pressure (10 to 1 mm Hg) in a warm water bath (40-100° C.) with the more extreme conditions used to remove the ethylene glycol. [Alternatively, once the low boiling solvent is gone, the remaining solution can be partitioned between ethyl acetate and water. The product will be in the organic phase.] The residue was purified by column chromatography (2 kg silica gel, ethyl acetate-hexanes gradient 1:1 to 4:1). The appropriate fractions were combined, stripped and dried to product as a white crisp foam (84 g, 50%), contaminated starting material (17.4 g) and pure reusable starting material 20 g. The yield based on starting material less pure recovered starting material was 58%. TLC and NMR were consistent with 99% pure product.

[0160] 2′-O-([2-phthalimidoxy)ethyl]-5′-t-butyldiphenylsilyl-5-methyluridine

[0161] 5′-O-tert-Butyldiphenylsilyl-2′-O-(2-hydroxyethyl)-5-methyluridine (20 g, 36.98 mmol) was mixed with triphenylphosphine (11.63 g, 44.36 mmol) and N-hydroxyphthalimide (7.24 g, 44.36 mmol). It was then dried over P₂O₅ under high vacuum for two days at 40° C. The reaction mixture was flushed with argon and dry THF (369.8 mL, Aldrich, sure seal bottle) was added to get a clear solution. Diethyl-azodicarboxylate (6.98 mL, 44.36 mmol) was added dropwise to the reaction mixture. The rate of addition is maintained such that resulting deep red coloration is just discharged before adding the next drop. After the addition was complete, the reaction was stirred for 4 hrs. By that time TLC showed the completion of the reaction (ethylacetate:hexane, 60:40). The solvent was evaporated in vacuum. Residue obtained was placed on a flash column and eluted with ethyl acetate:hexane (60:40), to get 2′-O-([2-phthalimidoxy)ethyl]-5′-t-butyldiphenylsilyl-5-methyluridine as white foam (21.819 g, 86%).

[0162] 5′-O-tert-butyldiphenylsilyl-2′-O-[(2-formadoximinooxy)ethyl]-5-methyluridine

[0163] 2′-O-([2-phthalimidoxy)ethyl]-5′-t-butyldiphenylsilyl-5-methyluridine (3.1 g, 4.5 mmol) was dissolved in dry CH₂Cl₂ (4.5 mL) and methylhydrazine (300 mL, 4.64 mmol) was added dropwise at −10° C. to 0° C. After 1 h the mixture was filtered, the filtrate was washed with ice cold CH₂Cl₂ and the combined organic phase was washed with water, brine and dried over anhydrous Na₂SO₄. The solution was concentrated to get 2′-O-(aminooxyethyl) thymidine, which was then dissolved in MeOH (67.5 mL). To this formaldehyde (20% aqueous solution, w/w, 1.1 eq.) was added and the resulting mixture was strirred for 1 h. Solvent was removed under vacuum; residue chromatographed to get 5′-O-tert-butyldiphenylsilyl-2′-O-[(2-formadoximinooxy) ethyl]-5-methyluridine as white foam (1.95 g, 78%).

[0164] 5′-O-tert-Butyldiphenylsilyl-2′-O-[N,N-dimethylaminooxyethyl]-5-methyluridine

[0165] 5′-O-tert-butyldiphenylsilyl-2′-O-[(2-formadoximinooxy)ethyl]-5-methyluridine (1.77 g, 3.12 mmol) was dissolved in a solution of 1M pyridinium p-toluenesulfonate (PPTS) in dry MeOH (30.6 mL). Sodium cyanoborohydride (0.39 g, 6.13 mmol) was added to this solution at 10° C. under inert atmosphere. The reaction mixture was stirred for 10 minutes at 10° C. After that the reaction vessel was removed from the ice bath and stirred at room temperature for 2 h, the reaction monitored by TLC (5% MeOH in CH₂Cl₂). Aqueous NaHCO₃ solution (5%, 10 mL) was added and extracted with ethyl acetate (2×20 mL). Ethyl acetate phase was dried over anhydrous Na₂SO₄, evaporated to dryness. Residue was dissolved in a solution of 1M PPTS in MeOH (30.6 mL). Formaldehyde (20% w/w, 30 mL, 3.37 mmol) was added and the reaction mixture was stirred at room temperature for 10 minutes. Reaction mixture cooled to 10° C. in an ice bath, sodium cyanoborohydride (0.39 g, 6.13 mmol) was added and reaction mixture stirred at 10° C. for 10 minutes. After 10 minutes, the reaction mixture was removed from the ice bath and stirred at room temperature for 2 hrs. To the reaction mixture 5% NaHCO₃ (25 mL) solution was added and extracted with ethyl acetate (2×25 mL). Ethyl acetate layer was dried over anhydrous Na₂SO₄ and evaporated to dryness. The residue obtained was purified by flash column chromatography and eluted with 5% MeOH in CH₂Cl₂ to get 5′-O-tert-butyldiphenylsilyl-2′-O-[N,N-dimethylaminooxyethyl]-5-methyluridine as a white foam (14.6 g, 80%).

[0166] 2′-O-(dimethylaminooxyethyl)-5-methyluridine

[0167] Triethylamine trihydrofluoride (3.91 mL, 24.0 mmol) was dissolved in dry THF and triethylamine (1.67 mL, 12 mmol, dry, kept over KOH). This mixture of triethylamine-2HF was then added to 5′-O-tert-butyldiphenylsilyl-2′-O-[N,N-dimethylaminooxyethyl]-5-methyluridine (1.40 g, 2.4 mmol) and stirred at room temperature for 24 hrs. Reaction was monitored by TLC (5% MeOH in CH₂Cl₂). Solvent was removed under vacuum and the residue placed on a flash column and eluted with 10% MeOH in CH₂Cl₂ to get 2′-O-(dimethylaminooxyethyl)-5-methyluridine (766 mg, 92.5%).

[0168] 5′-O-DMT-2′-O-(dimethylaminooxyethyl)-5-methyluridine

[0169] 2′-O-(dimethylaminooxyethyl)-5-methyluridine (750 mg, 2.17 mmol) was dried over P₂O₅ under high vacuum overnight at 40° C. It was then co-evaporated with anhydrous pyridine (20 mL). The residue obtained was dissolved in pyridine (11 mL) under argon atmosphere. 4-dimethylaminopyridine (26.5 mg, 2.60 mmol), 4,4′-dimethoxytrityl chloride (880 mg, 2.60 mmol) was added to the mixture and the reaction mixture was stirred at room temperature until all of the starting material disappeared. Pyridine was removed under vacuum and the residue chromatographed and eluted with 10% MeOH in CH₂Cl₂ (containing a few drops of pyridine) to get 5′-O-DMT-2′-O-(dimethylamino-oxyethyl)-5-methyluridine (1.13 g, 80%).

[0170] 5′-O-DMT-2′-O-(2-N,N-dimethylaminooxyethyl)-5-methyluridine-3′-[(2-cyanoethyl)-N,N-diisopropylphosphoramidite]

[0171] 5′-O-DMT-2′-O-(dimethylaminooxyethyl)-5-methyluridine (1.08 g, 1.67 mmol) was co-evaporated with toluene (20 mL). To the residue N,N-diisopropylamine tetrazonide (0.29 g, 1.67 mmol) was added and dried over P₂O₅ under high vacuum overnight at 40° C. Then the reaction mixture was dissolved in anhydrous acetonitrile (8.4 mL) and 2-cyanoethyl-N,N,N¹,N¹-tetraisopropylphosphoramidite (2.12 mL, 6.08 mmol) was added. The reaction mixture was stirred at ambient temperature for 4 hrs under inert atmosphere. The progress of the reaction was monitored by TLC (hexane:ethyl acetate 1:1). The solvent was evaporated, then the residue was dissolved in ethyl acetate (70 mL) and washed with 5% aqueous NaHCO₃ (40 mL). Ethyl acetate layer was dried over anhydrous Na₂SO₄ and concentrated. Residue obtained was chromatographed (ethyl acetate as eluent) to get 5′-O-DMT-2′-O-(2-N,N-dimethylaminooxyethyl)-5-methyluridine-3′-[(2-cyanoethyl)-N,N-diisopropylphosphoramidite] as a foam (1.04 g, 74.9%).

[0172] 2′-(Aminooxyethoxy) nucleoside amidites

[0173] 2′-(Aminooxyethoxy) nucleoside amidites [also known in the art as 2′-O-(aminooxyethyl) nucleoside amidites] are prepared as described in the following paragraphs. Adenosine, cytidine and thymidine nucleoside amidites are prepared similarly.

[0174] N2-isobutyryl-6-O-diphenylcarbamoyl-2′-O- (2-ethylacetyl)-5′-O-(4,4′-dimethoxytrityl)guanosine-3′-[(2-cyanoethyl)-N,N-diisopropylphosphoramidite]

[0175] The 2′-O-aminooxyethyl guanosine analog may be obtained by selective 2′-O-alkylation of diaminopurine riboside. Multigram quantities of diaminopurine riboside may be purchased from Schering AG (Berlin) to provide 2′-O-(2-ethylacetyl) diaminopurine riboside along with a minor amount of the 3′-O-isomer. 2′-O-(2-ethylacetyl) diaminopurine riboside may be resolved and converted to 2′-O-(2-ethylacetyl)guanosine by treatment with adenosine deaminase. (McGee, D. P. C., Cook, P. D., Guinosso, C. J., WO 94/02501 A1 940203.) Standard protection procedures should afford 2′-O-(2-ethylacetyl)-5′-O-(4,4′-dimethoxytrityl)guanosine and 2-N-isobutyryl-6-O-diphenylcarbamoyl-2′-O-(2-ethylacetyl)-5′-O-(4,4′-dimethoxytrityl)guanosine which may be reduced to provide 2-N-isobutyryl-6-O-diphenylcarbamoyl-2′-O-(2-hydroxyethyl)-5′-O-(4,4′-dimethoxytrityl)guanosine. As before the hydroxyl group may be displaced by N-hydroxyphthalimide via a Mitsunobu reaction, and the protected nucleoside may phosphitylated as usual to yield 2-N-isobutyryl-6-O-diphenylcarbamoyl-2′-O-([2-phthalmidoxy]ethyl)-5′-O-(4,4′-dimethoxytrityl)guanosine-3′-[(2-cyanoethyl)-N,N-diisopropylphosphoramidite].

[0176] 2′-dimethylaminoethoxyethoxy (2′-DMAEOE) nucleoside amidites

[0177] 2′-dimethylaminoethoxyethoxy nucleoside amidites (also known in the art as 2′-O-dimethylaminoethoxyethyl, i.e., 2′—O—CH₂—O—CH₂—N(CH₂)₂, or 2′-DMAEOE nucleoside amidites) are prepared as follows. Other nucleoside amidites are prepared similarly.

[0178] 2′—O-[2(2-N,N-dimethylaminoethoxy)ethyl]-5-methyl uridine

[0179] 2[2-(Dimethylamino)ethoxy]ethanol (Aldrich, 6.66 g, 50 mmol) is slowly added to a solution of borane in tetra-hydrofuran (1 M, 10 mL, 10 mmol) with stirring in a 100 mL bomb. Hydrogen gas evolves as the solid dissolves. O²-,2′-anhydro-5-methyluridine (1.2 g, 5 mmol), and sodium bicarbonate (2.5 mg) are added and the bomb is sealed, placed in an oil bath and heated to 155° C. for 26 hours. The bomb is cooled to room temperature and opened. The crude solution is concentrated and the residue partitioned between water (200 mL) and hexanes (200 mL). The excess phenol is extracted into the hexane layer. The aqueous layer is extracted with ethyl acetate (3×200 mL) and the combined organic layers are washed once with water, dried over anhydrous sodium sulfate and concentrated. The residue is columned on silica gel using methanol/methylene chloride 1:20 (which has 2% triethylamine) as the eluent. As the column fractions are concentrated a colorless solid forms which is collected to give the title compound as a white solid.

[0180] 5′-O-dimethoxytrityl-2′-O-[2(2-N,N-dimethylaminoethoxy) ethyl)]-5-methyl uridine

[0181] To 0.5 g (1.3 mmol) of 2′-O-[2(2-N,N-dimethylamino-ethoxy)ethyl)]-5-methyl uridine in anhydrous pyridine (8 mL), triethylamine (0.36 mL) and dimethoxytrityl chloride (DMT-Cl, 0.87 g, 2 eq.) are added and stirred for 1 hour. The reaction mixture is poured into water (200 mL) and extracted with CH₂Cl₂ (2×200 mL). The combined CH₂Cl₂ layers are washed with saturated NaHCO₃ solution, followed by saturated NaCl solution and dried over anhydrous sodium sulfate. Evaporation of the solvent followed by silica gel chromatography using MeOH:CH₂Cl₂:Et₃N (20:1, v/v, with 1% triethylamine) gives the title compound.

[0182] 5′-O-Dimethoxytrityl-2′-O-[2(2-N,N-dimethylaminoethoxy)-ethyl)]-5-methyl uridine-3′-O-(cyanoethyl-N,N-diisopropyl)phosphoramidite

[0183] Diisopropylaminotetrazolide (0.6 g) and 2-cyanoethoxy-N,N-diisopropyl phosphoramidite (1.1 mL, 2 eq.) are added to a solution of 5′-O-dimethoxytrityl-2′-O-[2(2-N,N-dimethylaminoethoxy)ethyl)]-5-methyluridine (2.17 g, 3 mmol) dissolved in CH₂Cl₂ (20 mL) under an atmosphere of argon. The reaction mixture is stirred overnight and the solvent evaporated. The resulting residue is purified by silica gel flash column chromatography with ethyl acetate as the eluent to give the title compound.

Example 2

[0184] Oligonucleotide Synthesis

[0185] Unsubstituted and substituted phosphodiester (P═O) oligonucleotides are synthesized on an automated DNA synthesizer (Applied Biosystems model 380B) using standard phosphoramidite chemistry with oxidation by iodine.

[0186] Phosphorothioates (P═S) are synthesized as for the phosphodiester oligonucleotides except the standard oxidation bottle was replaced by 0.2 M solution of 3H-1,2-benzodithiole-3-one 1,1-dioxide in acetonitrile for the stepwise thiation of the phosphite linkages. The thiation wait step was increased to 68 sec and was followed by the capping step. After cleavage from the CPG column and deblocking in concentrated ammonium hydroxide at 55° C. (18 h), the oligonucleotides were purified by precipitating twice with 2.5 volumes of ethanol from a 0.5 M NaCl solution.

[0187] Phosphinate oligonucleotides are prepared as described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,508,270, herein incorporated by reference.

[0188] Alkyl phosphonate oligonucleotides are prepared as described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,469,863, herein incorporated by reference.

[0189] 3′-Deoxy-3′-methylene phosphonate oligonucleotides are prepared as described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,610,289 or 5,625,050, herein incorporated by reference.

[0190] Phosphoramidite oligonucleotides are prepared as described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,256,775 or U.S. Pat. No. 5,366,878, herein incorporated by reference.

[0191] Alkylphosphonothioate oligonucleotides are prepared as described in published PCT applications PCT/US94/00902 and PCT/US93/06976 (published as WO 94/17093 and WO 94/02499, respectively), herein incorporated by reference.

[0192] 3′-Deoxy-3′-amino phosphoramidate oligonucleotides are prepared as described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,476,925, herein incorporated by reference.

[0193] Phosphotriester oligonucleotides are prepared as described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,023,243, herein incorporated by reference.

[0194] Borano phosphate oligonucleotides are prepared as described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,130,302 and 5,177,198, both herein incorporated by reference.

Example 3

[0195] Oligonucleoside Synthesis

[0196] Methylenemethylimino linked oligonucleosides, also identified as MMI linked oligonucleosides, methylenedimethyl-hydrazo linked oligonucleosides, also identified as MDH linked oligonucleosides, and methylenecarbonylamino linked oligonucleosides, also identified as amide-3 linked oligonucleosides, and methyleneaminocarbonyl linked oligonucleosides, also identified as amide-4 linked oligonucleosides, as well as mixed backbone compounds having, for instance, alternating MMI and P═O or P═S linkages are prepared as described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,378,825, 5,386,023, 5,489,677, 5,602,240 and 5,610,289, all of which are herein incorporated by reference.

[0197] Formacetal and thioformacetal linked oligonucleosides are prepared as described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,264,562 and 5,264,564, herein incorporated by reference.

[0198] Ethylene oxide linked oligonucleosides are prepared as described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,223,618, herein incorporated by reference.

Example 4

[0199] PNA Synthesis

[0200] Peptide nucleic acids (PNAs) are prepared in accordance with any of the various procedures referred to in Peptide Nucleic Acids (PNA): Synthesis, Properties and Potential Applications, Bioorganic & Medicinal Chemistry, 1996, 4, 5-23. They may also be prepared in accordance with U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,539,082, 5,700,922, and 5,719,262, herein incorporated by reference.

Example 5

[0201] Synthesis of Chimeric Oligonucleotides

[0202] Chimeric oligonucleotides, oligonucleosides or mixed oligonucleotides/oligonucleosides of the invention can be of several different types. These include a first type wherein the “gap” segment of linked nucleosides is positioned between 5′ and 3′ “wing” segments of linked nucleosides and a second “open end” type wherein the “gap” segment is located at either the 3′ or the 5′ terminus of the oligomeric compound. Oligonucleotides of the first type are also known in the art as “gapmers” or gapped oligonucleotides. Oligonucleotides of the second type are also known in the art as “hemimers” or “wingmers”.

[0203] [2′—O-Me]—[2′-deoxy]—[2′-O-Me]Chimeric Phosphorothioate Oligonucleotides

[0204] Chimeric oligonucleotides having 2′-O-alkyl phosphorothioate and 2′-deoxy phosphorothioate oligo-nucleotide segments are synthesized using an Applied Biosystems automated DNA synthesizer Model 380B, as above. Oligonucleotides are synthesized using the automated synthesizer and 2′-deoxy-5′-dimethoxytrityl-3′-O-phosphoramidite for the DNA portion and 5′-dimethoxytrityl-2′-O-methyl-3′-O-phosphoramidite for 5′ and 3′ wings. The standard synthesis cycle is modified by increasing the wait step after the delivery of tetrazole and base to 600 s repeated four times for RNA and twice for 2′-O-methyl. The fully protected oligonucleotide is cleaved from the support and the phosphate group is deprotected in 3:1 ammonia/ethanol at room temperature overnight then lyophilized to dryness. Treatment in methanolic ammonia for 24 hrs at room temperature is then done to deprotect all bases and sample was again lyophilized to dryness. The pellet is resuspended in 1M TBAF in THF for 24 hrs at room temperature to deprotect the 2′ positions. The reaction is then quenched with 1M TEAA and the sample is then reduced to ½ volume by rotovac before being desalted on a G25 size exclusion column. The oligo recovered is then analyzed spectrophotometrically for yield and for purity by capillary electrophoresis and by mass spectrometry.

[0205] [2′-O-(2-Methoxyethyl)]—[2′-deoxy]—[2′-O-(Methoxyethyl)] Chimeric Phosphorothioate Oligonucleotides

[0206] [2′-O-(2-methoxyethyl)]—[2′-deoxy]—[-2′-O-(methoxy-ethyl)] chimeric phosphorothioate oligonucleotides were prepared as per the procedure above for the 2′-O-methyl chimeric oligonucleotide, with the substitution of 2′-O-(methoxyethyl) amidites for the 2′-O-methyl amidites.

[0207] [2′-O-(2-Methoxyethyl)Phosphodiester]—[2′-deoxy Phosphorothioate]—[2′-O-(2-Methoxyethyl) Phosphodiester] Chimeric Oligonucleotides

[0208] [2′-O-(2-methoxyethyl phosphodiester]—[2′-deoxy phosphorothioate]—[2′-O-(methoxyethyl) phosphodiester] chimeric oligonucleotides are prepared as per the above procedure for the 2′-O-methyl chimeric oligonucleotide with the substitution of 2′-O-(methoxyethyl) amidites for the 2′-O-methyl amidites, oxidization with iodine to generate the phosphodiester internucleotide linkages within the wing portions of the chimeric structures and sulfurization utilizing 3,H-1,2 benzodithiole-3-one 1,1 dioxide (Beaucage Reagent) to generate the phosphorothioate internucleotide linkages for the center gap.

[0209] Other chimeric oligonucleotides, chimeric oligonucleosides and mixed chimeric oligonucleotides/oligonucleosides are synthesized according to U.S. Pat. No. 5,623,065, herein incorporated by reference.

Example 6

[0210] Oligonucleotide Isolation

[0211] After cleavage from the controlled pore glass column (Applied Biosystems) and deblocking in concentrated ammonium hydroxide at 55° C. for 18 hours, the oligonucleotides or oligonucleosides are purified by precipitation twice out of 0.5 M NaCl with 2.5 volumes ethanol. Synthesized oligonucleotides were analyzed by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis on denaturing gels and judged to be at least 85% full length material. The relative amounts of phosphorothioate and phosphodiester linkages obtained in synthesis were periodically checked by ³¹P nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, and for some studies oligonucleotides were purified by HPLC, as described by Chiang et al., J. Biol. Chem. 1991, 266, 18162-18171. Results obtained with HPLC-purified material were similar to those obtained with non-HPLC purified material.

Example 7

[0212] Oligonucleotide Synthesis—96 Well Plate Format

[0213] Oligonucleotides were synthesized via solid phase P(III) phosphoramidite chemistry on an automated synthesizer capable of assembling 96 sequences simultaneously in a standard 96 well format. Phosphodiester internucleotide linkages were afforded by oxidation with aqueous iodine. Phosphorothioate internucleotide linkages were generated by sulfurization utilizing 3,H-1,2 benzodithiole-3-one 1,1 dioxide (Beaucage Reagent) in anhydrous acetonitrile. Standard base-protected beta-cyanoethyldiisopropyl phosphoramidites were purchased from commercial vendors (e.g. PE-Applied Biosystems, Foster City, Calif., or Pharmacia, Piscataway, N.J.). Non-standard nucleosides are synthesized as per known literature or patented methods. They are utilized as base protected beta-cyanoethyldiisopropyl phosphoramidites.

[0214] Oligonucleotides were cleaved from support and deprotected with concentrated NH₄OH at elevated temperature (55-60° C.) for 12-16 hours and the released product then dried in vacuo. The dried product was then re-suspended in sterile water to afford a master plate from which all analytical and test plate samples are then diluted utilizing robotic pipettors.

Example 8

[0215] Oligonucleotide Analysis—96 Well Plate Format

[0216] The concentration of oligonucleotide in each well was assessed by dilution of samples and UV absorption spectroscopy. The full-length integrity of the individual products was evaluated by capillary electrophoresis (CE) in either the 96 well format (Beckman P/ACE™ MDQ) or, for individually prepared samples, on a commercial CE apparatus (e.g., Beckman P/ACE™ 5000, ABI 270). Base and backbone composition was confirmed by mass analysis of the compounds utilizing electrospray-mass spectroscopy. All assay test plates were diluted from the master plate using single and multi-channel robotic pipettors. Plates were judged to be acceptable if at least 85% of the compounds on the plate were at least 85% full length.

Example 9

[0217] Cell Culture and Oligonucleotide Treatment

[0218] The effect of antisense compounds on target nucleic acid expression can be tested in any of a variety of cell types provided that the target nucleic acid is present at measurable levels. This can be routinely determined using, for example, PCR or Northern blot analysis. The following 4 cell types are provided for illustrative purposes, but other cell types can be routinely used, provided that the target is expressed in the cell type chosen. This can be readily determined by methods routine in the art, for example Northern blot analysis, Ribonuclease protection assays, or RT-PCR.

[0219] T-24 Cells:

[0220] The human transitional cell bladder carcinoma cell line T-24 was obtained from the American Type Culture Collection (ATCC) (Manassas, Va.). T-24 cells were routinely cultured in complete McCoy's 5A basal media (Gibco/Life Technologies, Gaithersburg, Md.) supplemented with 10% fetal calf serum (Gibco/Life Technologies, Gaithersburg, Md.), penicillin 100 units per mL, and streptomycin 100 micrograms per mL (Gibco/Life Technologies, Gaithersburg, Md.). Cells were routinely passaged by trypsinization and dilution when they reached 90% confluence. Cells were seeded into 96-well plates (Falcon-Primaria #3872) at a density of 7000 cells/well for use in RT-PCR analysis.

[0221] For Northern blotting or other analysis, cells may be seeded onto 100 mm or other standard tissue culture plates and treated similarly, using appropriate volumes of medium and oligonucleotide.

[0222] A549 Cells:

[0223] The human lung carcinoma cell line A549 was obtained from the American Type Culture Collection (ATCC) (Manassas, Va.). A549 cells were routinely cultured in DMEM basal media (Gibco/Life Technologies, Gaithersburg, Md.) supplemented with 10% fetal calf serum (Gibco/Life Technologies, Gaithersburg, Md.), penicillin 100 units per mL, and streptomycin 100 micrograms per mL (Gibco/Life Technologies, Gaithersburg, Md.). Cells were routinely passaged by trypsinization and dilution when they reached 90% confluence.

[0224] NHDF Cells:

[0225] Human neonatal dermal fibroblast (NHDF) were obtained from the Clonetics Corporation (Walkersville Md.). NHDFs were routinely maintained in Fibroblast Growth Medium (Clonetics Corporation, Walkersville Md.) supplemented as recommended by the supplier. Cells were maintained for up to 10 passages as recommended by the supplier.

[0226] HEK Cells:

[0227] Human embryonic keratinocytes (HEK) were obtained from the Clonetics Corporation (Walkersville Md.). HEKs were routinely maintained in Keratinocyte Growth Medium (Clonetics Corporation, Walkersville Md.) formulated as recommended by the supplier. Cells were routinely maintained for up to 10 passages as recommended by the supplier.

[0228] Treatment with Antisense Compounds:

[0229] When cells reached 80% confluency, they were treated with oligonucleotide. For cells grown in 96-well plates, wells were washed once with 200 μL OPTI-MEM™-1 reduced-serum medium (Gibco BRL) and then treated with 130 μL of OPTI-MEM™-1 containing 3.75 μg/mL LIPOFECTIN™ (Gibco BRL) and the desired concentration of oligonucleotide. After 4-7 hours of treatment, the medium was replaced with fresh medium. Cells were harvested 16-24 hours after oligonucleotide treatment.

[0230] The concentration of oligonucleotide used varies from cell line to cell line. To determine the optimal oligonucleotide concentration for a particular cell line, the cells are treated with a positive control oligonucleotide at a range of concentrations. For human cells the positive control oligonucleotide is ISIS 13920, TCCGTCATCGCTCCTCAGGG, SEQ ID NO: 1, a 2′-O-methoxyethyl gapmer (2′-O-methoxyethyls shown in bold) with a phosphorothioate backbone which is targeted to human H-ras. For mouse or rat cells the positive control oligonucleotide is ISIS 15770, ATGCATTCTGCCCCCAAGGA, SEQ ID NO: 2, a 2′-O-methoxyethyl gapmer (2′-O-methoxyethyls shown in bold) with a phosphorothioate backbone which is targeted to both mouse and rat c-raf. The concentration of positive control oligonucleotide that results in 80% inhibition of c-Ha-ras (for ISIS 13920) or c-raf (for ISIS 15770) mRNA is then utilized as the screening concentration for new oligonucleotides in subsequent experiments for that cell line. If 80% inhibition is not achieved, the lowest concentration of positive control oligonucleotide that results in 60% inhibition of H-ras or c-raf mRNA is then utilized as the oligonucleotide screening concentration in subsequent experiments for that cell line. If 60% inhibition is not achieved, that particular cell line is deemed as unsuitable for oligonucleotide transfection experiments.

Example 10

[0231] Analysis of Oligonucleotide Inhibition of RECQL Expression

[0232] Antisense modulation of RECQL expression can be assayed in a variety of ways known in the art. For example, RECQL mRNA levels can be quantitated by, e.g., Northern blot analysis, competitive polymerase chain reaction (PCR), or real-time PCR (RT-PCR). Real-time quantitative PCR is presently preferred. RNA analysis can be performed on total cellular RNA or poly(A)+mRNA. Methods of RNA isolation are taught in, for example, Ausubel, F. M. et al., Current Protocols in Molecular Biology, Volume 1, pp. 4.1.1-4.2.9 and 4.5.1-4.5.3, John Wiley & Sons, Inc., 1993. Northern blot analysis is routine in the art and is taught in, for example, Ausubel, F. M. et al., Current Protocols in Molecular Biology, Volume 1, pp. 4.2.1-4.2.9, John Wiley & Sons, Inc., 1996. Real-time quantitative (PCR) can be conveniently accomplished using the commercially available ABI PRISM™ 7700 Sequence Detection System, available from PE-Applied Biosystems, Foster City, Calif. and used according to manufacturer's instructions.

[0233] Protein levels of RECQL can be quantitated in a variety of ways well known in the art, such as immunoprecipitation, Western blot analysis (immunoblotting), ELISA or fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS). Antibodies directed to RECQL can be identified and obtained from a variety of sources, such as the MSRS catalog of antibodies (Aerie Corporation, Birmingham, Mich.), or can be prepared via conventional antibody generation methods. Methods for preparation of polyclonal antisera are taught in, for example, Ausubel, F. M. et al., Current Protocols in Molecular Biology, Volume 2, pp. 11.12.1-11.12.9, John Wiley & Sons, Inc., 1997. Preparation of monoclonal antibodies is taught in, for example, Ausubel, F. M. et al., Current Protocols in Molecular Biology, Volume 2, pp. 11.4.1-11.11.5, John Wiley & Sons, Inc., 1997.

[0234] Immunoprecipitation methods are standard in the art and can be found at, for example, Ausubel, F. M. et al., Current Protocols in Molecular Biology, Volume 2, pp. 10.16.1-10.16.11, John Wiley & Sons, Inc., 1998. Western blot (immunoblot) analysis is standard in the art and can be found at, for example, Ausubel, F. M. et al., Current Protocols in Molecular Biology, Volume 2, pp. 10.8.1-10.8.21, John Wiley & Sons, Inc., 1997. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA) are standard in the art and can be found at, for example, Ausubel, F. M. et al., Current Protocols in Molecular Biology, Volume 2, pp. 11.2.1-11.2.22, John Wiley & Sons, Inc., 1991.

Example 11

[0235] Poly(A)+ mRNA Isolation

[0236] Poly(A)+ mRNA was isolated according to Miura et al., Clin. Chem., 1996, 42, 1758-1764. Other methods for poly(A)+ mRNA isolation are taught in, for example, Ausubel, F. M. et al., Current Protocols in Molecular Biology, Volume 1, pp. 4.5.1-4.5.3, John Wiley & Sons, Inc., 1993. Briefly, for cells grown on 96-well plates, growth medium was removed from the cells and each well was washed with 200 μL cold PBS. 60 μL lysis buffer (10 mM Tris-HCl, pH 7.6, 1 mM EDTA, 0.5 M NaCl, 0.5% NP-40, 20 mM vanadyl-ribonucleoside complex) was added to each well, the plate was gently agitated and then incubated at room temperature for five minutes. 55 μL of lysate was transferred to Oligo d(T) coated 96-well plates (AGCT Inc., Irvine Calif.). Plates were incubated for 60 minutes at room temperature, washed 3 times with 200 μL of wash buffer (10 mM Tris-HCl pH 7.6, 1 mM EDTA, 0.3 M NaCl). After the final wash, the plate was blotted on paper towels to remove excess wash buffer and then air-dried for 5 minutes. 60 μL of elution buffer (5 mM Tris-HCl pH 7.6), preheated to 70° C. was added to each well, the plate was incubated on a 90° C. hot plate for 5 minutes, and the eluate was then transferred to a fresh 96-well plate.

[0237] Cells grown on 100 mm or other standard plates may be treated similarly, using appropriate volumes of all solutions.

Example 12

[0238] Total RNA Isolation

[0239] Total RNA was isolated using an RNEASY 96™ kit and buffers purchased from Qiagen Inc. (Valencia Calif.) following the manufacturer's recommended procedures. Briefly, for cells grown on 96-well plates, growth medium was removed from the cells and each well was washed with 200 μL cold PBS. 100 μL Buffer RLT was added to each well and the plate vigorously agitated for 20 seconds. 100 μL of 70% ethanol was then added to each well and the contents mixed by pipetting three times up and down. The samples were then transferred to the RNEASY 96™ well plate attached to a QIAVAC™ manifold fitted with a waste collection tray and attached to a vacuum source. Vacuum was applied for 15 seconds. 1 mL of Buffer RW1 was added to each well of the RNEASY 96™ plate and the vacuum again applied for 15 seconds. 1 mL of Buffer RPE was then added to each well of the RNEASY 96™ plate and the vacuum applied for a period of 15 seconds. The Buffer RPE wash was then repeated and the vacuum was applied for an additional 10 minutes. The plate was then removed from the QIAVAC™ manifold and blotted dry on paper towels. The plate was then re-attached to the QIAVAC™ manifold fitted with a collection tube rack containing 1.2 mL collection tubes. RNA was then eluted by pipetting 60 μL water into each well, incubating 1 minute, and then applying the vacuum for 30 seconds. The elution step was repeated with an additional 60 μL water.

[0240] The repetitive pipetting and elution steps may be automated using a QIAGEN Bio-Robot 9604 (Qiagen, Inc., Valencia Calif.). Essentially, after lysing of the cells on the culture plate, the plate is transferred to the robot deck where the pipetting, DNase treatment and elution steps are carried out.

Example 13

[0241] Real-Time Quantitative PCR Analysis of RECQL mRNA Levels

[0242] Quantitation of RECQL mRNA levels was determined by real-time quantitative PCR using the ABI PRISM™ 7700 Sequence Detection System (PE-Applied Biosystems, Foster City, Calif.) according to manufacturer's instructions. This is a closed-tube, non-gel-based, fluorescence detection system which allows high-throughput quantitation of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) products in real-time. As opposed to standard PCR, in which amplification products are quantitated after the PCR is completed, products in real-time quantitative PCR are quantitated as they accumulate. This is accomplished by including in the PCR reaction an oligonucleotide probe that anneals specifically between the forward and reverse PCR primers, and contains two fluorescent dyes. A reporter dye (e.g., JOE, FAM, or VIC, obtained from either Operon Technologies Inc., Alameda, Calif. or PE-Applied Biosystems, Foster City, Calif.) is attached to the 5′ end of the probe and a quencher dye (e.g., TAMRA, obtained from either Operon Technologies Inc., Alameda, Calif. or PE-Applied Biosystems, Foster City, Calif.) is attached to the 3′ end of the probe. When the probe and dyes are intact, reporter dye emission is quenched by the proximity of the 3′ quencher dye. During amplification, annealing of the probe to the target sequence creates a substrate that can be cleaved by the 5′-exonuclease activity of Taq polymerase. During the extension phase of the PCR amplification cycle, cleavage of the probe by Taq polymerase releases the reporter dye from the remainder of the probe (and hence from the quencher moiety) and a sequence-specific fluorescent signal is generated. With each cycle, additional reporter dye molecules are cleaved from their respective probes, and the fluorescence intensity is monitored at regular intervals by laser optics built into the ABI PRISM™ 7700 Sequence Detection System. In each assay, a series of parallel reactions containing serial dilutions of mRNA from untreated control samples generates a standard curve that is used to quantitate the percent inhibition after antisense oligonucleotide treatment of test samples.

[0243] Prior to quantitative PCR analysis, primer-probe sets specific to the target gene being measured are evaluated for their ability to be “multiplexed” with a GAPDH amplification reaction. In multiplexing, both the target gene and the internal standard gene GAPDH are amplified concurrently in a single sample. In this analysis, mRNA isolated from untreated cells is serially diluted. Each dilution is amplified in the presence of primer-probe sets specific for GAPDH only, target gene only (“single-plexing”), or both (multiplexing). Following PCR amplification, standard curves of GAPDH and target mRNA signal as a function of dilution are generated from both the single-plexed and multiplexed samples. If both the slope and correlation coefficient of the GAPDH and target signals generated from the multiplexed samples fall within 10% of their corresponding values generated from the single-plexed samples, the primer-probe set specific for that target is deemed multiplexable. Other methods of PCR are also known in the art.

[0244] PCR reagents were obtained from PE-Applied Biosystems, Foster City, Calif. RT-PCR reactions were carried out by adding 25 μL PCR cocktail (1× TAQMAN™ buffer A, 5.5 mM MgCl₂, 300 μM each of DATP, dCTP and dGTP, 600 μM of dUTP, 100 nM each of forward primer, reverse primer, and probe, 20 Units RNAse inhibitor, 1.25 Units AMPLITAQ GOLD™, and 12.5 Units MuLV reverse transcriptase) to 96 well plates containing 25 μL total RNA solution. The RT reaction was carried out by incubation for 30 minutes at 48° C. Following a 10 minute incubation at 95° C. to activate the AMPLITAQ GOLD™, 40 cycles of a two-step PCR protocol were carried out: 95° C. for 15 seconds (denaturation) followed by 60° C. for 1.5 minutes (annealing/extension).

[0245] Gene target quantities obtained by real time RT-PCR are normalized using either the expression level of GAPDH, a gene whose expression is constant, or by quantifying total RNA using RiboGreen™ (Molecular Probes, Inc. Eugene, Oreg.). GAPDH expression is quantified by real time RT-PCR, by being run simultaneously with the target, multiplexing, or separately. Total RNA is quantified using RiboGreen™ RNA quantification reagent from Molecular Probes. Methods of RNA quantification by RiboGreen™ are taught in Jones, L. J., et al, Analytical Biochemistry, 1998, 265, 368-374.

[0246] In this assay, 175 μL of RiboGreen™ working reagent (RiboGreen™ reagent diluted 1:2865 in 10 mM Tris-HCl, 1 mM EDTA, pH 7.5) is pipetted into a 96-well plate containing 25 uL purified, cellular RNA. The plate is read in a CytoFluor 4000 (PE Applied Biosystems) with excitation at 480 nm and emission at 520 nm.

[0247] Probes and primers to human RECQL were designed to hybridize to a human RECQL sequence, using published sequence information (GenBank accession number NM_(—)002907, incorporated herein as SEQ ID NO: 3). For human RECQL the PCR primers were:

[0248] forward primer: ATGCGGATCACTTCCTTTCG (SEQ ID NO: 4)

[0249] reverse primer: CAGAGCAGGGCAGTGATTAACTT (SEQ ID NO: 5) and the PCR probe was: FAM-CCGGTTTCTCCTCCGCCAATGTG-TAMRA (SEQ ID NO: 6) where FAM (PE-Applied Biosystems, Foster City, Calif.) is the fluorescent reporter dye) and TAMPA (PE-Applied Biosystems, Foster City, Calif.) is the quencher dye. For human GAPDH the PCR primers were:

[0250] forward primer: GAAGGTGAAGGTCGGAGTC (SEQ ID NO: 7)

[0251] reverse primer: GAAGATGGTGATGGGATTTC (SEQ ID NO: 8) and the PCR probe was: 5′ JOE-CAAGCTTCCCGTTCTCAGCCX- TAMPA 3′ (SEQ ID NO: 9) where JOE (PE-Applied Biosystems, Foster City, Calif.) is the fluorescent reporter dye) and TAMRA (PE-Applied Biosystems, Foster City, Calif.) is the quencher dye.

Example 14

[0252] Northern Blot Analysis of RECQL mRNA Levels

[0253] Eighteen hours after antisense treatment, cell monolayers were washed twice with cold PBS and lysed in 1 mL RNAZOL™ (TEL-TEST “B” Inc., Friendswood, Tex.). Total RNA was prepared following manufacturer's recommended protocols. Twenty micrograms of total RNA was fractionated by electrophoresis through 1.2% agarose gels containing 1.1% formaldehyde using a MOPS buffer system (AMRESCO, Inc. Solon, Ohio). RNA was transferred from the gel to HYBOND™-N+ nylon membranes (Amersham Pharmacia Biotech, Piscataway, N.J.) by overnight capillary transfer using a Northern/Southern Transfer buffer system (TEL-TEST “B” Inc., Friendswood, Tex.). RNA transfer was confirmed by UV visualization. Membranes were fixed by UV cross-linking using a STRATALINKER™ UV Crosslinker 2400 (Stratagene, Inc, La Jolla, Calif.) and then robed using QUICKHYB™ hybridization solution (Stratagene, La Jolla, Calif.) using manufacturer's recommendations for stringent conditions.

[0254] To detect human RECQL, a human RECQL specific probe was prepared by PCR using the forward primer ATGCGGATCACTTCCTTTCG (SEQ ID NO: 4) and the reverse primer CAGAGCAGGGCAGTGATTAACTT (SEQ ID NO: 5). To normalize for variations in loading and transfer efficiency membranes were stripped and probed for human glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH) RNA (Clontech, Palo Alto, Calif.).

[0255] Hybridized membranes were visualized and quantitated using a PHOSPHORIMAGER™ and IMAGEQUANT™ Software V3.3 (Molecular Dynamics, Sunnyvale, Calif.). Data was normalized to GAPDH levels in untreated controls.

Example 15

[0256] Antisense Inhibition of Human RECQL Expression by Chimeric Phosphorothioate Oligonucleotides having 2′-MOE Wings and a Deoxy Gap

[0257] In accordance with the present invention, a series of oligonucleotides were designed to target different regions of the human RECQL RNA, using published sequences (GenBank accession number NM_(—)002907, incorporated herein as SEQ ID NO: 3, the complement of residues 100001-135000 of GenBank accession number AC006559 which is incorporated herein as SEQ ID NO: 10, residues 32276-32815 of SEQ ID NO: 10, incorporated herein as SEQ ID NO: 11, and the complement of GenBank accession number AF062709 which represents an alternate 5′UTR of the RECQL gene and is incorporated herein as SEQ ID NO: 12). The oligonucleotides are shown in Table 1. “Target site” indicates the first (5′-most) nucleotide number on the particular target sequence to which the oligonucleotide binds. All compounds in Table 1 are chimeric oligonucleotides (“gapmers”) 20 nucleotides in length, composed of a central “gap” region consisting of ten 2′-deoxynucleotides, which is flanked on both sides (5′ and 3′ directions) by five-nucleotide “wings”. The wings are composed of 2′-methoxyethyl (2′-MOE)nucleotides. The internucleoside (backbone) linkages are phosphorothioate (P═S) throughout the oligonucleotide. All cytidine residues are 5-methylcytidines. The compounds were analyzed for their effect on human RECQL mRNA levels by quantitative real-time PCR as described in other examples herein. Data are averages from two experiments. If present, “N.D.” indicates “no data”. TABLE 1 Inhibition of human RECQL mRNA levels by chimeric phosphorothioate oligonucleotides having 2′-MOE wings and a deoxy gap TARGET TARGET +HC, 38 ISIS # REGION SEQ ID NO SITE SEQUENCE % INHIB SEQ ID NO 136942 5′ UTR 3 72 acccaggcctcgagcagatc 72 13 136943 5′ UTR 3 135 ggtgtccgactgtcctgtgt 76 14 136944 5′ UTR 3 162 gtctaactctccggtgtttg 85 15 136945 5′ UTR 3 195 ttatcccagagcctgtcccc 0 16 136946 5′ UTR 3 306 atgtgtgggcgaaaggaagt 52 17 136947 5′ UTR 3 375 gaacgtgcccctaaaggccc 70 18 136948 5′ UTR 3 454 agctgctaataaacaggctt 92 19 136949 Coding 3 542 ccagttcctcagttagagct 59 20 136950 Coding 3 567 gcatgtagctcactggttat 83 21 136951 Coding 3 614 taagctcttgttgcctttcc 61 22 136952 Coding 3 726 aaatcttctttattccaagc 59 23 136953 Coding 3 732 catggaaaatcttctttatt 13 24 136954 Coding 3 762 ttttgcagaatatctttaac 12 25 136955 Coding 3 875 aacataagctctttccacct 37 26 136956 Coding 3 912 agtgtaaaaccatctgaaca 23 27 136957 Coding 3 919 aatgacgagtgtaaaaccat 9 28 136958 Coding 3 1019 taacatgctccttagaacta 30 29 136959 Coding 3 1076 tcacataaatcagctttaac 26 30 136960 Coding 3 1137 gcttcataggctttctctag 87 31 136961 Coding 3 1187 actgactacagcagtgaact 29 32 136962 Coding 3 1201 gaaatcatgtccccactgac 46 33 136963 Coding 3 1218 gccttataatcaggtctgaa 59 34 136964 Coding 3 1238 gccgctttaagataccaagt 52 35 136965 Coding 3 1309 tttctgagcatccgtcaaaa 29 36 136966 Coding 3 1385 tctgccgaacctcataatat 0 37 136967 Coding 3 1405 atcttcagtgtttgagggct 38 38 136968 Coding 3 1467 tatatgattcctgattgccc 74 39 136969 Coding 3 1495 ttgttcagagtctttctgag 48 40 136970 Coding 3 1501 cgtaacttgttcagagtctt 56 41 136971 Coding 3 1565 tatcttctggctccaaattg 62 42 136972 Coding 3 1597 attggctgaccattttctat 12 43 136973 Coding 3 1616 ccactactacctgaatttca 43 44 136974 Coding 3 1653 tctggcttatcaattcccat 30 45 136975 Coding 3 1672 atggataacaaacctcacat 57 46 136976 Coding 3 1734 tcatctcgacctgcacgtcc 42 47 136977 Coding 3 1752 atacagtctgctttcatgtc 60 48 136978 Coding 3 1830 taaagcttctgctgtcccac 5 49 136979 Coding 3 1852 ttgacagtatgataccatct 0 50 136980 Coding 3 1939 gttatcgcacattttgttac 13 51 136981 Coding 3 1965 ctttcaaatgcactgtcttt 59 52 136982 Coding 3 2054 tcagtttcaatggagtgagt 82 53 136983 Coding 3 2080 tgcaccctttcccatccaag 74 54 136984 Coding 3 2098 tgctactctcagttttgctg 73 55 136985 Coding 3 2119 aagtgtgggagccacaacac 35 56 136986 Coding 3 2153 agtgtgcaataatcttctcc 34 57 136987 Coding 3 2169 tactgctgtattagaaagtg 58 58 136988 Coding 3 2185 gtagtcttctttaagatact 58 59 136989 Coding 3 2201 cataagctgtaaaactgtag 54 60 136990 Coding 3 2224 tattttcaaatacgaaatgg 38 61 136991 Coding 3 2261 catgtgcctcattgttcaga 78 62 136992 Coding 3 2326 acaagtttgagacgattcag 76 63 136993 Coding 3 2336 gttcagaatgacaagtttga 64 64 136994 Coding 3 2414 ccagattgctgaagcatgtt 86 65 136995 Coding 3 2474 tagtaacattcatatcaggc 64 66 136996 Stop 3 2495 accatctttaattagaaaat 26 67 Codon 136997 3′ UTR 3 2564 taaaatatctatgaaattct 11 68 136998 3′ UTR 3 2670 cttgttttacactggaaaat 26 69 136999 3′ UTR 3 2686 acataaaaatttttcccttg 28 70 137000 3′ UTR 3 2802 gctttcaaaaagatagttat 52 71 137001 3′ UTR 3 2821 cctctgtcagtataatattg 88 72 137002 Intron 10 2665 ctcctttgattatgcggtta 81 73 137003 Intron 10 5248 gggctggactagtagcctcc 15 74 137004 Intron 10 5753 agtcaagaacaaagtgcctt 21 75 137005 Intron 10 7805 gagtatagactcgacttaag 40 76 137006 Intron 10 11735 ccagattgatttctgggtgt 19 77 437007 Intron 10 15627 agcatcttgatcttggactt 73 78 137008 Intron 10 22061 gcaagggtgataatcataag 83 79 437009 Intron 10 22501 tagttcacaattctttctaa 0 80 137010 Intron 10 25132 ataaattgtcacttaaacta 7 81 437011 Intron 10 29336 ttgaaaccttaaaatatgct 34 82 137012 Intron 11 7 tgcaaataaagcctttaaag 48 83 137013 Intron 11 63 actatatgcgcagtaattct 70 84 137014 Intron 11 366 ctcatgttcaactggaccta 72 85 137015 Intron 11 461 taaaaggccagtctaaattc 0 86 137016 Intron 14 500 tcctcccattccaagaaact 13 87 137017 5′ UTR 12 106 aaatatcgggtaataactga 0 88 137018 5′ UTR 12 323 tcagagagagacagccatga 0 89 137019 5′ UTR 12 538 ctaataaacaggctttggtg 60 90

[0258] As shown in Table 1, SEQ ID NOs 13, 14, 15, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 31, 34, 35, 39, 41, 42, 46, 48, 52, 53, 54, 55, 58, 59, 60, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 71, 72, 73, 78, 79, 84, 85 and 90 demonstrated at least 50% inhibition of human RECQL expression in this assay and are therefore preferred. The target sites to which these preferred sequences are complementary are herein referred to as “active sites” and are therefore preferred sites for targeting by compounds of the present invention.

Example 16

[0259] Western Blot Analysis of RECQL Protein Levels

[0260] Western blot analysis (immunoblot analysis) is carried out using standard methods. Cells are harvested 16-20 h after oligonucleotide treatment, washed once with PBS, suspended in Laemmli buffer (100 ul/well), boiled for 5 minutes and loaded on a 16% SDS-PAGE gel. Gels are run for 1.5 hours at 150 V, and transferred to membrane for western blotting. Appropriate primary antibody directed to RECQL is used, with a radiolabelled or fluorescently labeled secondary antibody directed against the primary antibody species. Bands are visualized using a PHOSPHORIMAGER™ (Molecular Dynamics, Sunnyvale Calif.).

1 90 1 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Antisense Oligonucleotide 1 tccgtcatcg ctcctcaggg 20 2 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Antisense Oligonucleotide 2 atgcattctg cccccaagga 20 3 2925 DNA Homo sapiens CDS (528)...(2507) 3 cttttttttt tttttttttt tttttataag attattagta taaaatttta gataggtagg 60 agtagcgaaa agatctgctc gaggcctggg tgctttggtg tcggagatcc gagagtcgga 120 gatcggagag tcggacacag gacagtcgga caccggacag tcaaacaccg gagagttaga 180 ctgggcttct cggtggggac aggctctggg ataactactg ttacagcttt gaagggtcaa 240 gggtgtgcgc tttttctttc atccttccct ttcctgctgc aggcgaggcc ggtctgatgc 300 ggatcacttc ctttcgccca cacattggcg gaggagaaac cggaaagtta atcactgccc 360 tgctctgaga actcgggcct ttaggggcac gttcgcctgc tgaccggtct tctgatctcc 420 ccattctttt ccatgcagga ggattggcca ccaaagcctg tttattagca gctgccattt 480 gttaaagaaa tttggattat tttagaaaca atttggaaag aaaaaga atg gcg tcc 536 Met Ala Ser 1 gtt tca gct cta act gag gaa ctg gat tct ata acc agt gag cta cat 584 Val Ser Ala Leu Thr Glu Glu Leu Asp Ser Ile Thr Ser Glu Leu His 5 10 15 gca gta gaa att caa att caa gaa ctt acg gaa agg caa caa gag ctt 632 Ala Val Glu Ile Gln Ile Gln Glu Leu Thr Glu Arg Gln Gln Glu Leu 20 25 30 35 att cag aaa aaa aaa gtc ctg aca aag aaa ata aag cag tgt tta gag 680 Ile Gln Lys Lys Lys Val Leu Thr Lys Lys Ile Lys Gln Cys Leu Glu 40 45 50 gat tct gat gcc ggg gca agc aat gaa tat gat tct tca cct gcc gct 728 Asp Ser Asp Ala Gly Ala Ser Asn Glu Tyr Asp Ser Ser Pro Ala Ala 55 60 65 tgg aat aaa gaa gat ttt cca tgg tct ggt aaa gtt aaa gat att ctg 776 Trp Asn Lys Glu Asp Phe Pro Trp Ser Gly Lys Val Lys Asp Ile Leu 70 75 80 caa aat gtc ttt aaa ctg gaa aag ttc aga cca ctt cag ctt gaa act 824 Gln Asn Val Phe Lys Leu Glu Lys Phe Arg Pro Leu Gln Leu Glu Thr 85 90 95 att aac gta aca atg gct gga aag gag gta ttt ctt gtt atg cct aca 872 Ile Asn Val Thr Met Ala Gly Lys Glu Val Phe Leu Val Met Pro Thr 100 105 110 115 gga ggt gga aag agc tta tgt tac cag tta cca gca tta tgt tca gat 920 Gly Gly Gly Lys Ser Leu Cys Tyr Gln Leu Pro Ala Leu Cys Ser Asp 120 125 130 ggt ttt aca ctc gtc att tgc cca ttg atc tct ctt atg gaa gac caa 968 Gly Phe Thr Leu Val Ile Cys Pro Leu Ile Ser Leu Met Glu Asp Gln 135 140 145 tta atg gtt tta aaa caa tta gga att tca gca acc atg tta aat gct 1016 Leu Met Val Leu Lys Gln Leu Gly Ile Ser Ala Thr Met Leu Asn Ala 150 155 160 tct agt tct aag gag cat gtt aaa tgg gtt cat gat gaa atg gta aat 1064 Ser Ser Ser Lys Glu His Val Lys Trp Val His Asp Glu Met Val Asn 165 170 175 aaa aac tcc gag tta aag ctg att tat gtg act cca gag aaa att gca 1112 Lys Asn Ser Glu Leu Lys Leu Ile Tyr Val Thr Pro Glu Lys Ile Ala 180 185 190 195 aaa agc aaa atg ttt atg tca aga cta gag aaa gcc tat gaa gca agg 1160 Lys Ser Lys Met Phe Met Ser Arg Leu Glu Lys Ala Tyr Glu Ala Arg 200 205 210 aga ttt act cga att gct gtg gat gaa gtt cac tgc tgt agt cag tgg 1208 Arg Phe Thr Arg Ile Ala Val Asp Glu Val His Cys Cys Ser Gln Trp 215 220 225 gga cat gat ttc aga cct gat tat aag gca ctt ggt atc tta aag cgg 1256 Gly His Asp Phe Arg Pro Asp Tyr Lys Ala Leu Gly Ile Leu Lys Arg 230 235 240 cag ttc cct aac gca tca cta att ggg ctg act gca act gca aca aat 1304 Gln Phe Pro Asn Ala Ser Leu Ile Gly Leu Thr Ala Thr Ala Thr Asn 245 250 255 cac gtt ttg acg gat gct cag aaa att ttg tgc att gaa aag tgt ttt 1352 His Val Leu Thr Asp Ala Gln Lys Ile Leu Cys Ile Glu Lys Cys Phe 260 265 270 275 act ttt aca gct tct ttt aat agg cca aat cta tat tat gag gtt cgg 1400 Thr Phe Thr Ala Ser Phe Asn Arg Pro Asn Leu Tyr Tyr Glu Val Arg 280 285 290 cag aag ccc tca aac act gaa gat ttt att gag gat att gta aag ctc 1448 Gln Lys Pro Ser Asn Thr Glu Asp Phe Ile Glu Asp Ile Val Lys Leu 295 300 305 att aat ggg aga tac aaa ggg caa tca gga atc ata tat tgt ttt tct 1496 Ile Asn Gly Arg Tyr Lys Gly Gln Ser Gly Ile Ile Tyr Cys Phe Ser 310 315 320 cag aaa gac tct gaa caa gtt acg gtt agt ttg cag aat ctg gga att 1544 Gln Lys Asp Ser Glu Gln Val Thr Val Ser Leu Gln Asn Leu Gly Ile 325 330 335 cat gca ggt gct tac cat gcc aat ttg gag cca gaa gat aag acc aca 1592 His Ala Gly Ala Tyr His Ala Asn Leu Glu Pro Glu Asp Lys Thr Thr 340 345 350 355 gtt cat aga aaa tgg tca gcc aat gaa att cag gta gta gtg gca act 1640 Val His Arg Lys Trp Ser Ala Asn Glu Ile Gln Val Val Val Ala Thr 360 365 370 gtt gca ttt ggt atg gga att gat aag cca gat gtg agg ttt gtt atc 1688 Val Ala Phe Gly Met Gly Ile Asp Lys Pro Asp Val Arg Phe Val Ile 375 380 385 cat cat tca atg agt aaa tcc atg gaa aat tat tac caa gag agt gga 1736 His His Ser Met Ser Lys Ser Met Glu Asn Tyr Tyr Gln Glu Ser Gly 390 395 400 cgt gca ggt cga gat gac atg aaa gca gac tgt att ttg tac tac ggc 1784 Arg Ala Gly Arg Asp Asp Met Lys Ala Asp Cys Ile Leu Tyr Tyr Gly 405 410 415 ttt gga gat ata ttc aga ata agt tca atg gtg gtg atg gaa aat gtg 1832 Phe Gly Asp Ile Phe Arg Ile Ser Ser Met Val Val Met Glu Asn Val 420 425 430 435 gga cag cag aag ctt tat gag atg gta tca tac tgt caa aac ata agc 1880 Gly Gln Gln Lys Leu Tyr Glu Met Val Ser Tyr Cys Gln Asn Ile Ser 440 445 450 aaa tct cgt cgt gtg ttg atg gct caa cat ttt gat gaa gta tgg aac 1928 Lys Ser Arg Arg Val Leu Met Ala Gln His Phe Asp Glu Val Trp Asn 455 460 465 tca gaa gca tgt aac aaa atg tgc gat aac tgc tgt aaa gac agt gca 1976 Ser Glu Ala Cys Asn Lys Met Cys Asp Asn Cys Cys Lys Asp Ser Ala 470 475 480 ttt gaa aga acg aac ata aca gag tac tgc aga gat cta atc aag atc 2024 Phe Glu Arg Thr Asn Ile Thr Glu Tyr Cys Arg Asp Leu Ile Lys Ile 485 490 495 ctg aag cag gca gag gaa ctg aat gaa aaa ctc act cca ttg aaa ctg 2072 Leu Lys Gln Ala Glu Glu Leu Asn Glu Lys Leu Thr Pro Leu Lys Leu 500 505 510 515 att gat tct tgg atg gga aag ggt gca gca aaa ctg aga gta gca ggt 2120 Ile Asp Ser Trp Met Gly Lys Gly Ala Ala Lys Leu Arg Val Ala Gly 520 525 530 gtt gtg gct ccc aca ctt cct cgt gaa gat ctg gag aag att att gca 2168 Val Val Ala Pro Thr Leu Pro Arg Glu Asp Leu Glu Lys Ile Ile Ala 535 540 545 cac ttt cta ata cag cag tat ctt aaa gaa gac tac agt ttt aca gct 2216 His Phe Leu Ile Gln Gln Tyr Leu Lys Glu Asp Tyr Ser Phe Thr Ala 550 555 560 tat gct gcc att tcg tat ttg aaa ata gga cct aaa gct aat ctt ctg 2264 Tyr Ala Ala Ile Ser Tyr Leu Lys Ile Gly Pro Lys Ala Asn Leu Leu 565 570 575 aac aat gag gca cat gct att act atg caa gtg aca aag tcc acg cag 2312 Asn Asn Glu Ala His Ala Ile Thr Met Gln Val Thr Lys Ser Thr Gln 580 585 590 595 aac tct ttc agg gct gaa tcg tct caa act tgt cat tct gaa caa ggt 2360 Asn Ser Phe Arg Ala Glu Ser Ser Gln Thr Cys His Ser Glu Gln Gly 600 605 610 gat aaa aag aat gga gga aaa aaa att cag gca act tcc aga aga agg 2408 Asp Lys Lys Asn Gly Gly Lys Lys Ile Gln Ala Thr Ser Arg Arg Arg 615 620 625 ctg caa aca tgc ttc agc aat ctg gtt cta aga ata cag gag cta aga 2456 Leu Gln Thr Cys Phe Ser Asn Leu Val Leu Arg Ile Gln Glu Leu Arg 630 635 640 aaa gaa aaa tcg atg atg cct gat atg aat gtt act aaa ttt tct aat 2504 Lys Glu Lys Ser Met Met Pro Asp Met Asn Val Thr Lys Phe Ser Asn 645 650 655 taa agatggttta tgcatgtata tgccattatt tttgtagtta gacaatagtt 2557 tttaaaagaa tttcatagat attttatatg tatggatcta tattttcaga gcttatctct 2617 gaagatctaa acttttgaga atgtttgaaa attagagatc atgaattata taattttcca 2677 gtgtaaaaca agggaaaaat ttttatgtaa aaccctttaa atgtaaaata tttgagaata 2737 agttcataca atcgtcttaa gttttttatg cctttatata cttagctata ttttttcttt 2797 tgacataact atctttttga aagcaatatt atactgacag aggcttcact gagtgatact 2857 ttaagttaaa tatgtagatc aagggatgtc caatcttttg gcttccctga gccagcgaat 2917 tgtgcaca 2925 4 20 DNA Artificial Sequence PCR Primer 4 atgcggatca cttcctttcg 20 5 23 DNA Artificial Sequence PCR Primer 5 cagagcaggg cagtgattaa ctt 23 6 23 DNA Artificial Sequence PCR Probe 6 ccggtttctc ctccgccaat gtg 23 7 19 DNA Artificial Sequence PCR Primer 7 gaaggtgaag gtcggagtc 19 8 20 DNA Artificial Sequence PCR Primer 8 gaagatggtg atgggatttc 20 9 20 DNA Artificial Sequence PCR Probe 9 caagcttccc gttctcagcc 20 10 35000 DNA Homo sapiens 10 tttttataaa gcaggcactc atcactatat taagtcttca aaaatataat ttctatgcac 60 agattattct cagatctcaa ataaagttta tatcaagtct tcttaggtga tagtggggta 120 cagtgcaaaa ggtttctgag ccagcacacc tgggatcaag ttttgtttct gtcacttttt 180 ctttgaccat gcactcaatt tcttttgtgc ctcatttaac ttatgaaagg ggcatgcttc 240 tgtgagcctt acagggctct tataagaatt atgcataatg attcacatga aagcacatgg 300 ttaactgaaa gaaaatacct ttatataatt gccagtaatt attattacac tagattccta 360 tcccctcaag actacacttt tattttcttt gatcagaaca ggccaggcca atggaccaaa 420 gtgggcggca accttggggc aggtggcccc aagaggcagc cccagtccag cctcaggagg 480 gaagacagcc tgattggggg gtggcagtgt gtgtaggagg ccttagaagc tctgtgaagt 540 tggtctgcca tgacttgaat ctccacaaga agactccact ttaaaatagg gcattttaaa 600 taaacttcta tttttcactt caattcactg tttaagtctt aaaatattga aaatctgagt 660 taactggagt gaaatgaaag gcgtggcaga taaagcaaag tgagacaaaa agagactctt 720 atgaacatca aaatatgagg tacagagctt gggcagacat aaatacaaaa attattaata 780 ttaacaaaaa gcagtaggaa agtggaaata ttataatgaa agaaaaggaa accgatatca 840 atgctagctt tagagatgaa ataggcctgg agaactctgt ggcaggcaga gagcgatgct 900 aaaataataa aacaagccac aaagcacaat atacaatact aacgaaatat atcctttaat 960 ggcacacaaa gtggcttttc tctactgctt gaaactttag caggtagaaa agtgagaatg 1020 tttcaagaga cttctaaaag gttgcttaca gtactggcaa aaagcgaata ttcaaaatgc 1080 cacatttaag cgtaaggaca ttttcaaaaa gagcctactg taggtgacat ttaaaatacc 1140 gcctcccaaa taaccagcca gccagggact tgtagaggac ccgaagtgtg tcatgcgcat 1200 aaacgatccc gagagtgggc cgcgggcacc acgcaaactt tctcttgtgg caagccccta 1260 gaacaaagcg cccatctcac tggggatgag gagatcagcg cgaccctgga atgagacaga 1320 ctctgggcta aagctcccct cccaacatag ggcgtcccac cctgccccac agactcttct 1380 cccaggtcag gtccgccagt ccaagtctag ccccggcatc ccgaaggcag ccccttaggg 1440 tcccagcagc cctagctctg tctcgcaggc caccgccccc aacccagagc ttcattcatt 1500 gaccccggcg gaggggcgag acccagccgg gcgatgggtg tgcgcggctc gaggcggggg 1560 ccccggagca ggtgcttact ctgcgtgtcc gttaaggaga tcatggctgc agtggtgggg 1620 acagcggcga cagcacctcg gaaagcccag ggtgggaagc tgagtcggga gaaatgaagc 1680 cgggaaacag cccaggcgag agccgccacg tcttccggaa acacgcagcc accctcactg 1740 ccgctttaag agcgcttcct attggcgaaa cctgcttcca atctcaacca ataactcgta 1800 atgttgttcg gtgacgcgca tggtgaccac accccttgac caattagaga agggagttat 1860 ctgtgattgg ctgaacggac cgacccggaa gggtggatgc tctcagctgg ctggcgggaa 1920 gattttactc ccgagtagcg gaaagatctg ctcgaggcct gggtgctttg gtgtcggaga 1980 tccgagagtc ggagatcgga gagtcggaca caggacagtc ggacaccgga cagtcaaaca 2040 ccggagagtt agaccgggct tctcggtggg gagaggctct gggataacta ctgttacagc 2100 tttgaagggt caagggtgtg cgctttttgt ttcatccttc cctttcctgc tgcagggcga 2160 ggccggtctg tagcggatca cttcctttcg cccacacatt ggcggaggag aaaccggaaa 2220 gttaatcact gccctgctct gagaactcgg gcctttaggg gcacgttcgc ctgctgaccg 2280 gtcttctgat ctccccattc ttttccatgc aggaggattg gccaccaaag cctgtttatt 2340 agcagctgcc atttgttggt aaatactact ggggatgctt cttccacccc ctgcttcaca 2400 gtagcggaag ggcgggcgtt attaatatta aattactatt gcctctaaat gcaggtggcg 2460 gggagagaga ggatttagcc tatggtatct cagtggcgtt tcctccaaca ttgatgactg 2520 gctgtcaccc tgtaacattc ttcctgtgga tgcctagctt atactgctga gtgacagacc 2580 tgctgtagtt caatttctgg atacatttta tgttgagata tcttttgctg ttaaatcaca 2640 tcattttggg aaggagcagt cttttaaccg cataatcaaa ggagtcattt aaaatcgtgg 2700 gggagaattg gatatagact gtgtcttttc ataagggtag aaacagcccc tgctacctta 2760 gcaaacctga gccctcacta catcaaggca ttttcctggg ctgtgcggat acaaaggtga 2820 agagattgaa ccccagccct gctaaaggac cttacagtct atggaaggaa tgttacattt 2880 tcattacgtg aagagatgtt tgtatagatc aagaattaga aatccttggt ttactctcct 2940 atttagcctt cttttaatgg tgtggttatt ccacattctt tagcaaggca aaaaagagtc 3000 agcctatctt tccggcctag tggtggcttc agaattctgt gtagaaaggg cgtaaggtca 3060 gcagtctaag gataggtgtt gcagaagtga cttttggaga gcatcttagt tttagaaaat 3120 gtccatatta gagagataga agaggtgttt ttaggattat ggggaattta aagtttctac 3180 tctccagccc cattttccac ttgtccatat gcatgcttag gttttagtca ttcatagata 3240 cttagaaatc attacaaacc attttcccct ccccccacct ctaacttaga aaatctagct 3300 tttctgtaga ataccagttt ctcttttaag attgggctta tattgtaatt ctttaacgca 3360 agggctcaat aaaatgttag atgattaatt ttattattta tgttgatgta ttttgcttaa 3420 tctggtacat ttgaatctat ccaacttatt tataagattg ccatcctccc agttttacag 3480 gtagggaaag aggcttggag gaacagcata tgcaactttg cctaacatag taatttagtc 3540 acatagcaat tggtgctaga cctgttgaat gtttgctgtt ttttgttaca tcactttgta 3600 tcttgtggat gtttgctgag tgtcattgct actgtatttg tcatgtatac gtttatgtga 3660 ctttggacac ttctctgaaa tctagagagt tagtcgttct gagtgttgtg ggttattaag 3720 ctgaaatata gagttttcca taaaaaatta gtgtcaaaag aaccatgtgg ttcttatttg 3780 aaaggtcact gcaatatata atttactttc taacattttc cgtgcttagg aatgacagat 3840 tactgttgag tgaacatcat taatagtact atttttaaaa acttgttgtc actgttgtgc 3900 ttttattttt agaaagaaat ttggattatt ttagaaacaa atttggaaag aaaaagaatg 3960 gcgtccgttt caggttagta gcaatgatta cattttcttc ttccttctgt tctatttctg 4020 tttgtatgat atttgaaaaa gtttgtttta aaaattctga ttatagaaat gatttttttc 4080 agctttttta ttgaagtaaa atacacatta caaactttgc catgctaacc attattaagt 4140 gaataattca ttggcattaa atgcatttag actgttgtgc agtcgtcacc actatccatc 4200 tccagagctt tttcatctat ccagactaaa attctatact cattaatccg taactttcca 4260 ttacttctct tctcctaatc cctgatagcc actattctac tttctgtttc ttgactattt 4320 taggtacctc atataaatgg aatcatataa catttgtcct tttgtgtcta atttttacct 4380 tatttgtgtc caaataaagg caatagcgga atcatgcttt tgcctatttc tcttactgct 4440 gagtatacac tgaccccttc cccaaaagag caggtacaaa ttatctttat tcgtctttgg 4500 gtgatgctca tttctcttct tgctgaatca tgtcctcctt ggtaatactg taatgtatcg 4560 gagagggacc aaataaaagg aaaaacccaa acttggttta tatacaaatt ttaaaaagca 4620 agaaagactt atagctatta cagttcttgt ttttcaattg gtcatgtgat catagtttgt 4680 actttataac tgccttcttc aactacccat tctgtattcc ttggttctca gttggtaatg 4740 ggtctttgct tggtggggac tacttgcctt agtagtttcc tatatttggt tattatagtt 4800 ttcaattaac tttaatcaca aggtaaggga atactgagag gtgcactaga ggatcttctg 4860 ctttccagac atactcttcc ttatccctat agtgtagtag ctatctgatt tccccttaat 4920 agtcaggatc acttacccca gcaagtatag taatcgcctt ctttgcctgt tcatttgttg 4980 gcatgaggaa cccaaagtgg ccaagtggca gtcaacttcc agtttaatgg aactattgct 5040 ttttcccctg gtacaagcat ttctttcttg gtaaccaaga cctctaggcc agcaagagtc 5100 cgatgtttca aggatgggaa gcaaaaattt cactagcgga tcactaaggg taatagaaga 5160 gccactccca tttccaccgc tgattcccgt gaatcgtggc aatgggagaa acagcactat 5220 tcactgatgt atagcatgcc atatcctgga ggctactagt ccagccctta aagtgctgat 5280 acccagctgg cagcataatt gagtctgcaa aatgccactc cattattttc tcaggctagc 5340 tgctgcaggt tgttggtgaa catagttaga ccagttaata tcttgaacat tagccttctg 5400 ttgtgctttg tttgctgtaa atgagttctt tggtcagaag taatttggtg gggaatacga 5460 tgacaatcag taggaattcc gtgaattcct ggatggtgga catgatagag cactgcaggc 5520 aggtatggta aattcatatc cggagtaagc atctgtatca gtgagaacaa agtgctgcct 5580 ctttcattat agacggttcc aatgcggtca ctttgccatc aagcatctgt ctgtccccac 5640 agagaatggt gcctccattg gaactcaagg ttggtatgag ctgtttgcag gttgagcact 5700 tagctctgga tgtagccaga tgggtcttcg tgagtggcag tccatgttgc agaaggcact 5760 ttgttcttga cttcgttgtg caaggacaag tgtggtcaat gtccaggtca tcttgtctac 5820 ctgattaatt atgattatac tttgtcgaag ttgtttttaa tgagcattca cattggacac 5880 aaataccttc acactctgac cattcagaga ggtctataca tatatctctt cctcagacct 5940 cattgccacc agttttccta tttgctacct tccaagttgc taaccatcct gccaatcatt 6000 aaccattgct tataatagtg tggatgtatt cctctggcaa aatgaataac tatgtggact 6060 gcttactgct gactgggaga attttccatc tccaatgttt ttcaggatca ctctggagag 6120 atgctagagt gctttagttg ttcactttca ggtagtgaca atatatcatg cagaatcttt 6180 tgtaaattag gtctgcattt ttttttccct tagtaacact gaatcccacc atgaggttat 6240 agctacaggt tgaggaggag gaggcaaagg ggagcatggt gcatgagcat tcagacttct 6300 tgttcacgcc ttcacttaga acctgctcac tttggcacat accacttcca ttgtgatgat 6360 ggaggcctgc ctgatgaatt gatgggtcgg atgacacctg gttgatgata ggcagcacag 6420 gtcacatagt aacttagtct cttgtaagac ccaggagcaa cccagaagtt gtttctgaaa 6480 gggtaatagt tctctgtaga taatggcaaa gagctttgct ctaaaatcct tatcatcttt 6540 gttgtgactc atctataggc caaaggtgtc atataacatc tgcattcatc acaaacttac 6600 agcaccatca aatctgttgg gtcatatggc tcaatggtaa gagaagattg tatcatggcg 6660 ttacctcttg ttcgaggtcc tactcaaaac cggcaagttt tggggttact tggtaaatta 6720 ggtgtatgtt gcctcccaaa tccaagtagt ccattaggct ctgtgctgct ctcttagtaa 6780 taggaggggc cagatataga aacttatcct tcactttaga agaggtatct caacatgccc 6840 catacccttt gactctcacc aaggtgtcag gcctctgaat ttttatggga tttatcttct 6900 atcctctggc aagtgtctct cttagcagtt tgtctatagt agctgctact gctgcttctt 6960 gctcagcagg tcagacaagc atgatatcat caatgcagag agctagtgta atgtctggtg 7020 gaatgaaaag ggaatcagga tccctgcagc ctagattagg gctagagagt agatatagct 7080 ctgaggtggg agaataaaga tacattgctg gctcagcaaa ctgcttttac tgtgctatac 7140 tattccccta tgctataata acaggtacat gggtatggag aataaaacat tcagcagatc 7200 aatagctgaa gccagatgcc agggcatgtg ttctgtctta ttaatgaaat tacagctgga 7260 accatggctg ctgttggagc cacagcctta ttaattttgg cataatccat tctcaatctc 7320 cagaatccat tgtcttctgc atacaccaca taggtgagtt gaatgcgaca tggaagtcat 7380 cattaccctc atatctttca tgccgttgat gtaggcagta atctctgcaa tccctccagg 7440 aatgcagtaa tatttttagt ttgctgtatt ggttggtaaa ggcagttttg ctggcttccg 7500 tttgatcttt cctataataa taatccttag ttactttgcc aggagaccaa tgggtggatt 7560 ctgccacttg ctgaatatat ctgttctcag tatacattct gaaactgagg aaataaccac 7620 acagcagatt agaaggccca ctgtatatca ctagcagccg ctggacttga acctgctgct 7680 gccccatgcc aatgagatca ccaaccctgc ccttacactg actttcttaa atacagaaaa 7740 tatgtctact gcttcatttc taccttttaa atctctggaa accaaagctg cattgatcac 7800 ctcacttaag tcgagtctat actctgactg gtggatcacc atggcatttt ggttttctaa 7860 gaattagcat cagttcagag ctaatgtcca gtagtttctg agaagtgatt tctctttttc 7920 tttctttttt ttttggacgg agtctcactc tgtcacccag gctggagtac agtggtgtga 7980 tctcagctca ctccaagctc cgctcccggg ttcacaccat tctcctgcct cagcctccca 8040 agtagctagg actacaggcg cccgccacca cgcctggcta attttttgta tttttagtag 8100 agacggggtt tcaccatgtt agccaggatg gtctcgatct cctgatctcg tgatccaccc 8160 gcctcggcct cccaaagtgc tgggattaca ggcgtgagcc accgtgcctg gccgatttct 8220 ctttttttct aatgcacagt taccctaata aacttcctgg tgaagagtag taggaagatt 8280 cattacatac atttttagct gtgtggttga gtccttcccc aacaggctcc aacctctgcc 8340 ttattcaagg gcctctggtt ctataaggtg gttcaattct ggaaattcgt cgaaggatgg 8400 tctctctgtt gtgtttctgg ttctgtttac cagaatcaga gctttctatt ctgcgtgtta 8460 caaatcaagt aatctatttc cgtttcaggg acttcacagt caactagtca atccaagatc 8520 ttgtcggtca gaccattctg attgctgcct cagctctgtt gcccttcatg gcaaccacat 8580 ctactttatt tttcgtcata aattcaattg ccaatggtta gcccccatac cttggaatcc 8640 atcattgtcg ttgaatcagg tggtctactt ggaagatgat atttcccact gtcattccta 8700 gcttacagag aacagccagg ggagccccag catccctgaa gagctccgct gatgctggcg 8760 ctctgctcat gactgtattt ttcacagtct tggtgaaaga agtgtcctct ggattctcct 8820 gggggacagc aagggagtgg attatcaatc tatttgatct tccactctgg cactgctctc 8880 tctctaagcc tctgaatacc ttcctttaga gcatacccag gaaattccag agctccagcc 8940 tcactggact ctatacctgt tttattccat cccaattttc tgacattcat ctttgaggcc 9000 aggtttcagg caatgagcca agcaaattac tagagccact cctggccact atctaggaca 9060 ttaaatccag aatttcttag tgagcccgta tcaataaact tagcttaatt cgacattgta 9120 ttccataaac cctgtttcag tacctttatg atctattccc atatacattc tctaggtttc 9180 tgatgtagtt tggatatgtg tctcctccta atctcatgtt gaaatgtgac ctccagtgtt 9240 ggaggtgggc ctagtgggag gtgtttgggt catggagcag gatccctcat gaatggtttg 9300 gtgccctccc tatggtaatg actgagttct tgctctgtta gttcacatga gagctggttg 9360 tttcaaggag cctggcactg cctcttctct ttcttactct atctcccact gtgtgacaca 9420 cctgcccccc tttgccttct gtcatgattg gaagcttcct ggggtcctca caagaagcag 9480 atgccagcgc tatgctcctt gtatagccta cagaaccata agcaaaataa acttcttttc 9540 ttttataaat tacccagcct cggatacgcc tttatatcaa tgcaaaatgg atgaacacag 9600 tttctattga tatattttgg cacatgcagc tcttttggtg catatcatgt cttttgacag 9660 gttacatctt tgtgttttat cctctaggac ttctggatct taaagcactg aaagatggta 9720 gaggctgatt cttaggaggc ttagcagtcc catacaaggc aacaaggacc attgtgggga 9780 cttcagttag gaggacattg tttcagaaag gggaggcagg gtagaagaga cttggcataa 9840 tttagtggtt taaggtaacc tgcttcgttg gaatctgccc ttatgttccc ctccaaattt 9900 cagtctcctt cccagtcagt gtgctgactt tatcataaaa gtccctgcaa ggttgggaat 9960 tcagtttgta ttgaaattca gccatctgca ggatttagac ttacagctat ttttccaaaa 10020 tattggccct gtacctatag aggataaggt ttttttttaa ggacaatcat agaaactttg 10080 aggtccctta atgcagatcc tacatttttc ccctgagttc tttgcacact tagaagcaac 10140 cagtcaaccc cattattctc accaaaacat ttgtaacagc aaacactttg tcacccacag 10200 ccttgccttc tctagttatt tttctactgg tgtctatgga tgatgattta aataactttt 10260 ttcactgcat gatgacatag aatagttatg ttccctttat cagtggaaac agggttatta 10320 atgccttgaa atctaatcag atcagaaagc cagttctatg tggcccagaa acaattcaga 10380 gaacctgtta agtttctgtt cttccggatc aaaattctgt attggttagg gttcagtcag 10440 gtaagctgaa ccattatgag tgctgtaagt tttattatgg ggattaaaac ttatgtgatc 10500 atgggagctg gttaagcagc tatccctgag tcagcttctg gtcctgaagt cagcagtacc 10560 agcagtgaga aaggaagatg ggtgtgaagt atgggagggt atggatgagc tggaagctgc 10620 aaggataagt tgaaattcat gaggacaaag ttaggatgct ggtgccctgc tgaaaagctg 10680 gtgcacttgt cacagaaggt tggccagcaa catgaccaag aagccaaaga atctgtgggc 10740 caagttgttc caccaagatt tagcaggagc tgggggaact ggcttctgcc ccacgtccac 10800 aaagtgaggc agcagtttcc taatatcatg agtgagctcc agaagcacct ggccataggc 10860 caaccatccc aatgtaaaac tggctgctgc tttatttctg ccttgtaaat ctcatgcaga 10920 gttcacttgt ggccaaacct aacccaaagt catgtaggga agggttgata caagggatga 10980 tggcagttgg tacaataaaa aggtacccca acatcctatt ttaaatcaca gccataaatt 11040 atatctcatg aagaagcaca ttaaacctgt atactgatta atgcaggcag gtatatgaga 11100 atgcaccaag aacatcttta agatttttct agcttccatc gatgtggtat caaaaagcat 11160 ctcacttttt gactttaata cttagattga ttagaatcat acactggggt ttctttatag 11220 attagttaca aaggagataa aatgccaatt ccaatagtac acttgatttc tcttacttgt 11280 tacatcctct tgtttataat taccaactcc ttttaccacc aagtgagccc aaataggaat 11340 accttcataa agtaatagca aagtaattag ggaattagct tccttttgct tcaaagtctg 11400 atactttact taaatgattt aggagattgt tagaccactt ctctacaaca taataaaaat 11460 aattatcatg tattaaatat ttgtgtacca ggtactgcgt ctagaactcc taatatatta 11520 tctcactagc tcttcataaa aatactatga aagttagata ttgtccccat tttacaggaa 11580 gggaaatggg gatgcaggtg agtatcttgt ctgaggtcac tcagcaggta aaaggaggac 11640 ctgagattta acttaggtct atatgactca aaaacatgct cataaccatt ctgctatact 11700 acttcaagtt tgtctgtaat tgatatggcg ggcaacaccc agaaatcaat ctggaaacct 11760 aaagttgtaa tttactctgt ctaatcattg tatccgcgct gcctcccata gctctaactg 11820 aggaactgga ttctataacc agtgagctac atgcagtaga aattcaaatt caagaactta 11880 cggaaaggca acaagagctt attcagaaaa aaaaagtcct gacaaagaaa ataaagcagt 11940 gtttagagga ttctgatgcc ggggcaagca atgaatatga ttcttcacct gccgcttgga 12000 ataaagaagg ttaacttttt tttttttttt tttgctagtt ttatttcttc tcatatttta 12060 aaaaactaga atgaattctt gatgggacag tgctttccag taggcttaga ggtgaaactg 12120 gccatttctc cagtggaatg ggaaacttgc aggtggatca ttctttccct gtgttctgta 12180 gtcttcaaat taaactttta ttattcagac atttttttcc agttattgtt acagcaacat 12240 tgatcatgtt tagaaaatga gatacttcct ttacctacat taacaaacag ttaagaaaaa 12300 aaattcaaac tccttgccaa aggttagatc attttcctgc cctagtgaac aaacctttca 12360 tgattcaaga ccttatcaaa catcaagttt atcaattata aatagaataa tagaataatt 12420 agaataactc tagaagggat tgtgcttttt gtggatgttg cttttcaatg attcacgtct 12480 gaacaagata tttacaccaa aaattccaga taattgttaa ctttgttcat gatatttgag 12540 tactttatga tgctgtgaat tccctgatca acattcagac aattttttaa atacctgatc 12600 aaacaccttc ctttcttgtg tgggttaatt ctcaactggc aaatgtttac atttgttact 12660 ttttttttgt ttttgagata gggtcttgct ttgttgccca ggctggagtg cagtggcaca 12720 accacaactc actgcagcct caaactccca gcctcaagca atcctccctc ctcagcctcc 12780 ttagtagctg ggactacagg tgcacagaac cacacctggc tactttaaaa aaaatttttt 12840 tatagggata gagtcttgcc atcgcttgag ctcaggctgg tctcgaactc ctgagctcaa 12900 gtaatcctcc tgcttaggcc tcccaaaact gttgagatta taggcatgag ccaccatgcc 12960 tactatgtct tataatacat catttaactt gtttttgctt tgcttagcta gtgagttaat 13020 ctcaaaacta ttatcataaa agtttaatgg tctataagta ttagaagtct tatatatgtt 13080 tgtctcattc ttatcaaact tctataatag tcttacatgt ttgtctgatt cttaactttc 13140 ttttcctaga ttttccatgg tctggtaaag ttaaagatat tctgcaaaat gtctttaaac 13200 tggaaaagtt cagaccactt cagcttgaaa ctattaacgt aacaatggct ggaaaggagg 13260 tatttcttgt tatgcctaca ggaggtggaa agagcttatg ttaccagtta ccagcattat 13320 gttcagatgg tatgtactaa aaaaattaat tttgagttga agaagtgctt tgtcatcata 13380 cctttttaat tcttttaaaa aataatttat aatcatacat atataaaaat caagtgcatt 13440 tttgtttgat ttcttctata ttaatagaaa tttaaagttt cacttaaagg aggaatttta 13500 tttatttttt attttagatt caggggtata tgtgcaggtt tgttacatgg gtatattgtg 13560 tgatgctgag atttggactt ctaatgatcc atcgtccaag tagtaaacat agtacctgct 13620 aggtagtttt tcagcccttg ccctcctctc tccctaaagg aggagtttta aaaacttctg 13680 agattaatcc ttttatctgg ttcctgaaac ataaatttaa aaacatattg tactgaacat 13740 tcaaaatcct ctcttctagc ttttcgaaac cctatctaaa ttattgttaa ccatattcac 13800 cctacagtgc tatagaacac ttgaacagaa gatacaaggg gcaaaaaaac ccaaaaatgt 13860 tgtaggagaa gcagctctgg aagaagaatc agtagacctg aattctagtc ccagatcttt 13920 actgagtgtc tgccatggtg ctaggcactg ggagacacag tagtgagcaa aatgggcgtg 13980 gtcttagttt tcacagaact catagtgtag agtagcactt tctcagactt tagtgtacat 14040 aagaatcacc tgagaatttg attatgtgca gattctgatt ttatgtgaga ccaaagatcc 14100 tgcatttcta acaagttcgc tagtgctact gatattactg attgggtagt agcaagggat 14160 cagcaagctt tttcttgaaa gggtagatag taaataatat aggcttgtgg tccatatggt 14220 ctccttggca gctcttcaac cctgccattg tagcacaaaa gcagccacag ataatgtgta 14280 aacacatggg tgtagctgtg ttccattaaa ataacttaca aaaataggca accagccctt 14340 actttgttga tccctggttt agagaataca ggtaattgca agcaattgca ataagaattt 14400 tgggataaag gttttaatag ggaattaagt ctgtacaaag atctggtcta ggggctgtca 14460 gggaaagctg ttctgaggaa gtggcattta agctaaagtt taaagggtga gtaggcagaa 14520 gggacaggga aggaagagtg ttcattcaga aaagcaatac ttgagatcca aaagcaagag 14580 agaacattca cattatgatg tattcagtaa cctggaggaa tttctatgtg gcagtcagtg 14640 gtaagacatg tggaaagagt cttattttta aaacttttcc ttattttagc aagaagccat 14700 tgaagagttt tacacaggta agagactcat tatttcatgg tttagaagga taattctagc 14760 agttagatga attccagata catctggaag atagattcaa tgggacttgg tatttattgc 14820 ttggggggaa aggagaaaga agagtcaaga atgatactca aattttaggc ttggacaagt 14880 ggtgaggttc ttcactgaaa tggggtacat tggcgaaaga actcttggga atggagaggg 14940 gaaagatgat gaatttattt gggacatgtt gaatttacga tgcctttaag acatccaggt 15000 ggaattgtcc tatgagtagg aggatgtttg tgtctaaagc ctggtgttag aggtctgagt 15060 tgggggttgt tagtgtggag atggccactg aagccattgg aatgaatttc agagcagcat 15120 aagaagaaaa gaaggcctag aacagaaacc agaacaccaa gagtttaggg ataaacagag 15180 aaaaagggct tgcagacaag gctgagaaag agtagcaaca tataggataa ccaggattgt 15240 atgatgttat tagaaggcta gggaagggtg tgtttgaatg agggagtagt taatagtgat 15300 gtctgttagc aaaatgtcaa atacgtaagg atgtaagttt caatgagttt aatgacaaag 15360 gactcatcta tgaccttagc tagagcaatt ttattgaaat ggttgggtgg agaccaaata 15420 gcaatggttt gaagcaggta ggaattgagg aagtggaact ggtgagtatg ggattctctt 15480 tggaaaagaa tgactatgaa gggaagaaga gagtgggcca taaatgagat gttatcttag 15540 tctattccag ctgctgtaac agaatacttt atatcagtta attaacaaac aacagaagtt 15600 tactgcttgc agttctggag gctgggaagt ccaagatcaa gatgctaata gatttcggtg 15660 tctagagagg gggtgtttct catagatggc accttcttgc tacaccctca catggcggca 15720 aagaaagggc actcccttca actttttgta aaatggcatt aatcccactt atgaaagcag 15780 agccctcatt acttaatcac ttctgtgggg ataccaactt tcagaccata gtgggtgttt 15840 tccaagatga gagggacttg accatgttta aatgtaatga gtaggtgcta gtaaggaaaa 15900 gtgaaaataa taggagagag aataattgac tgggaaaaat ccctaataag gtcttaattt 15960 gattatgttt tttaaacatg tctgctcttt gccaaaggtt gttttaagaa acaaactaca 16020 gaaacgtaaa gccatatata attttaactg tagaatagct tttgtacttt aaacagtttc 16080 aattataagg aagggggcat attactataa cttcattcag acagtaaact gttcactgat 16140 ttctactcag cataaatgaa tctcgtacaa aaagtaaaag aatgcttatg caactatcat 16200 gtttaattat acacactact gtataattaa aaatctggtt tttttggaaa gctttatagt 16260 gatttttccc tgatgaaact gtttagtgtt tgaactgata tatgttgtct tactgaaatt 16320 accaatagtg attatttaaa acgatagcaa attaaacatt tgaaatgata aaaatctgtc 16380 tttattttta taaggataga gttctgttta gttgtatgtt tatttggctt ctacttacct 16440 tgtttggtca tttattcata tctaattaat gagagtaaga agtaagcttt actaaagctg 16500 cattaaaaat taatctgaat tgatggccag tgcccacaag ttaagaaggt gaatgggccg 16560 ggcgtggtag ctcatgcctg taatcctagc actttgggag gccaaggtgg gcagattgcc 16620 tgagctcagg agtttgagac cagcctgggc aacacagtga aaccctgtcc ctactaaaat 16680 acaaaagaaa ttagccaggc atggcagcag gtgcctgtag tcccagctac tcgggaggct 16740 gaggcaggag aattgcttga acccgggagg cagaggttgc aatgagccaa catcgcacca 16800 ctgcactcta gcctgggcaa gagagtgaga ctccatctct aaaaaaaaaa aaaaaaaaaa 16860 aaaaaaaaaa cgtgaatggt ttgcatctga ttctgagggt ggtgtaaagt ttaaggtaga 16920 tttttttttt tttctctttt aggttttaca ctcgtcattt gcccattgat ctctcttatg 16980 gaagaccaat taatggtttt aaaacaatta ggaatttcag caaccatgtt aaatgcttct 17040 agttctaagg tatgtttcag tggctttttt ttttttaatg taaactattc actgaaatag 17100 gagctttacc tgcagttgag ttgcttataa aattataaac tgttaactat ttatatcagg 17160 agttacaaac tactgctctt ggccagttct ggcccactgt ctatttttgt atgtcccatg 17220 agttaagaat ggtttttata tttttaaatg gctaaaaaaa atctaaaaag aatattttgt 17280 gaaatgggaa aattatttgc aattcaagtt tcagtatcca taaataaagt tttattgaaa 17340 caccaccatg ctcatttgtt gacatgttgt ctatggctgc ttttacagta taatggcaca 17400 gtggagtagt tgtgatagag accttatagc ccataaaacc taatattttt gtctgatact 17460 ttacaggaaa catttgctga cctgttttgt attatccatt ctaaaatagt aagggagaat 17520 tgctaattat gcagtgtaat taaatatgaa atatgaatta ttaagaagtt accctatacc 17580 tgtggaattt cttgtattta ggaatggact gtcttaccct catctgtaga ataaagcatt 17640 tcccagctat tcttttttaa aaagcatatt actgaaatct tcaaaaggag agagaatagc 17700 ataaaaactg ccatgtagcc atttccccct tcaacagtta tcaacatacg gctaatcttt 17760 ttttttaatc tgtatacctc cagttttccc tacccctttc ctcttagttt atttattcag 17820 aacaaattcc agacatcata ttttaattgt aaattcttca gtacgtatct ctaactttaa 17880 agaaaagtgc tgtgccatca tcacatctaa gaagtttaat caattcttta gaattataaa 17940 aaaaattcag atttctatct catttttatg ttttttttaa aaaaaaatat agcccagata 18000 atattcatgc attgtattgt atttggttga tatacccata ggttctcttt atatctttta 18060 tatttcccat gcaaattctt tgttgaagaa actgggttaa ctgtcctgta tctttctaca 18120 ttttcctgat tgcgtccttg tggtgttctt tctttctctc tttcttttct tttctttctt 18180 tttctttttt tttttttcag ttctggggtc catatgcagg atgtgcaggt ttgttacata 18240 ggtaactgga tccttttagt tagatctaaa agcctgattg tatttggaat ttttctttaa 18300 cttttttttt tttttttgca agagtatact tactgtggta tcactcaagt ggtacatagt 18360 acctggttat ctttttgtga tgctaagcgt cagtgggttc aagtgatgtc tgcctgatct 18420 ctggttatca gtttttcatc taatggtttt agcagccact gagtggcacc gtgagagcca 18480 tgatttcatt agggaggtgc aaaatggtga tatctaattc tgtcactctt tcttcatgta 18540 ttagttatac tttttctaca aaaataaact ttttcctcat taactctgca tgatgaaaat 18600 gcttgatttt tttttccctt tctttatgag ttttcagaaa gagttggttt tctagcattc 18660 tccaaaggtg gtcaacaaga tttttaaggt tttctttccc caagtatcac tataaactta 18720 caagctttga cgtataatat gattcacctt tggaatcata tatatatata tatcaatatg 18780 tatatatgta atgctgaaat agtcctgtcc ttgggcagtg agagcctctt taagttggtt 18840 cctgaatcct ttctcttaac cccattgctt ctgttccttg ctttcttttg cagtaagata 18900 atccatgttc attttatgca tttcctgccc agacctagag tcagccatac ctctaagaag 18960 ccctggttcc tttagtttac ccatatattt ttgttttatt taaactccat gtcattctat 19020 tataactgct ccttcctcca acaaaatcaa tctgtggaga aaactgcctt ctaataatgt 19080 actttcttaa aattgaaaaa gaacataata gtaatagaaa gtaatttaga aagttgcaga 19140 taattacaag ttcatgatat atccctactc ttgaaagttg gagagagaaa aaaagaacat 19200 ctgtatccta gaatatatct aggagttaac aaactgcttc tttgctggga tgatgaaagt 19260 agtttgactg tctctttcta tctcattcac tggcatgttt ttatactttt ttggtcctct 19320 ttagattaga aggaaaaaaa atgacatcta atatgctaag tattgtatag aattgtatga 19380 gtactaagaa tctaataact gttacctttt aagatttatt attattatct taatttaatg 19440 agtgatactt tgtgaaaccc catggtcttt atatttaaat aaagagatta aaagatttga 19500 tggtatcatt tgagaagtta ataaataata aattttgttc acatacataa agggattata 19560 aatataatgt taaaattaat aaaacccacc tttataacca taacaattgc atctagctca 19620 cattttagaa tatattatga acaatttagg attatgcctt catagaataa atgctcttca 19680 ttggagtatc tgtttgtgtt cttttttgtc aagtgagttt tttttagtca tcaacaatgt 19740 agacgttagt aaataactag aatgctattt acacagctgc catgatgttt cgtactgaga 19800 catggtttca gttttaatga actaaacatc tgctcctaga agagccaaag gctattattg 19860 ctttggagaa atgaacgttt tcatttacca cctagtattt cagtctgcta gcttagtttt 19920 actatcattg tgtctatttt tttcttttaa taggagcatg ttaaatgggt tcatgctgaa 19980 atggtaaata aaaactccga gttaaagctg atttatgtga ctccagagaa aattgcaaaa 20040 agcaaaatgt ttatgtcaag actagagaaa gcctatgaag caaggagatt tactcgaatt 20100 gctgtggatg aagttcactg ctgtagtcag tggggacatg atttcagacc tggtatgtat 20160 gttttatcta gaaaactttt tgatgtcata gaccgtgtcc ttactcagct tggcatgatg 20220 gaaatctctg cttctattaa aatcatcctc aagtagttac acattgaata tccgttatcc 20280 agaatgttcg gaaccaaaag ggttttaaat tttggatttt tttggatttg ggatgatcaa 20340 cctgtattac ttattttatc ttgcctcatt atgaggagga ctgagaggca gaatgtttag 20400 tttcattccc cactgtagtc tgtagtttaa ttgcccttgt caattatgga caaatatgga 20460 cacatatgtt tactagccaa tagtggacat ctttgtggca tttatgacat ctaggtattc 20520 cttcacattt gttgaagaat ttgcatctgt ttcaaagttg tcatctttag tcatcattct 20580 gagggtcttt tcagcaccca catacaactc ctcagcatga aactttgatg agatattttt 20640 agtgaccttt ttcttcaccc caccacctaa tcctacagtc atagcctaaa gtaagttact 20700 cagaattgtt atatgcaaaa aaatcttaaa ttcaaaaatc cgactccctg gcttcaacct 20760 gttttccttc tgaagctttt cacacattag gatttgctgg atccctcttt taatccctgc 20820 ttatttatcc aggctcctgt ccctacatag caatcactct gtttcccgtc cagacactgt 20880 gctgttgccc cttacttctg ttatatttgc cctggactgc ctggccattc tgccagtctg 20940 cttcaggcgt tgtgcctgag atgctggatt catctagact ttggctttcc ccattcctgc 21000 tgcttggcta ctaaacattg tcaaaaaaac aaaaattgca taactccatt cagcttttca 21060 ttatcctcag ccgtccttat acttgtccct atttcaactc ctttatacat ttcttccaac 21120 aaatgtctcc tatcattaac tttctattca ggccctaact tgtacttagc agatgctttc 21180 tgcttcacag aaaatagatg ccatcaggta tgaacagctc ctctttctac tttcaaacat 21240 tagtaatctt tttttttttt cttttgttaa ggcagaaaag accactgctt tataaggcta 21300 accatgacca ctcccgtttc atcctttcct gccttcttaa gatcttgcac tgccaaattc 21360 ctcactcctt caccttcagg ctcttttgtc ctctccctaa aaacagaaac taaaacaccc 21420 ttctgacctt ttaatgttac tgtcctcttt ctgttctttc tgtcaccatc agacttctca 21480 gcttaccatc tccatttttc acctttaacc cattctgaac tcattgaatc atgcttctgc 21540 caccaccata ctactgaaac aggtcatcgg tgacccaccc ccagatgaga ccacttcatc 21600 aagtggtctc atcttcattc ctcttcccac ttcacttcag taacatttta tatattcacc 21660 tctcaccttg ccacattcta ctcccttggt tactgtacag cagtgctgtt cagtgtcttc 21720 ccttccattc tcacctcctt cgctcttcct gtcttctttt taaatattag tgttccctag 21780 ggttctgacc tcagtcttta ccctttctta cgtttctcca gggatagtga gcttgtagcc 21840 cgaagactgc attctctacc tacagaatta ttatgggcat tgtttttatt tatttatata 21900 ttttaaatag atttaaatgc cttaaacggg atgtatacgc ctttctatta agggcccctc 21960 ttttcttaac cagatagcgc cacatagttg ttacctggtg gccactgaag ttacctgatt 22020 tgtgactctt gccctatttt caacctaaat ggtttgatcc cttatgatta tcacccttgc 22080 ttaagtatta ccatgactta tgttgtctct gtggatctgc tgccaaagtg taaaacatta 22140 ttcccatatc taattagcta actgctaaac tttaaattta tactcctaat tgtttatcag 22200 aaatgtgtat ctaaattagc atgaccaaaa ctaaattccc ccaaaagaac tgctcttttt 22260 cttctcaact gggaatattt tccccataac tctactcgac attctaacca aaaacttttt 22320 gttttcttcg cctttccttt ctccgttctc ctctctactc ccaagcaatt tccccttcag 22380 tcttctctgt cttaaaaaat catccactca ctcacatgtt tgctgaagcc aaaattttag 22440 cagttatctt tatcatttag gttccagtca ggagacagtt atttgaacag agagaatttt 22500 ttagaaagaa ttgtgaacta ggtaaaaagt agctaaatag ataactgaaa aagtaaaaag 22560 aaaacgaaga tatcatggag ttaaaaactg gaagaagcaa caaccacctg tagggctggg 22620 agaacaggaa gaaaagattg gaacaaataa gacttagaaa cttaatgaag agggcttgtg 22680 gaactgagct ccctggtgct ggagtctctt ggtagaggca gaggtggggt acgtctgtga 22740 taaagctggt tctccaaagg ctgagaaaag tgccaactgt atttagttgc tcttaaggaa 22800 agaagtgctg ctgcagggat gagaagcctt gcaggggtga cagtcacagg aacacaagca 22860 agcccacagg aagcagttag ggaggaagca gccatggtgt cttccatcca gggccagcag 22920 gcaaagctga tgcgtagtgt gcagagtcct tggtgcagca tcccaaagca cagtatagaa 22980 gggtggggtt agagatgaca aaaaaaaaat ggatgacaca ccgtccttga tttaccctcc 23040 ctttgcagat ccagtccacc actaagtgtt gtcagctctg cctctagaat gaatctcaag 23100 tttgtctact ctctgtgcac ctacgtctta catacagttg agctcccttc cactggtcta 23160 ctgcagcagc ttcctaagta gtctttgatt ccgttcttac actttttgtt cattctccac 23220 agagcaacca gtgatatttt ctaaatacac atcaaatcat gttacttccc tacctaaact 23280 acccagtagc tactgtgtac ttagaataaa acccagcgtt cttaactggg gcccataggg 23340 taatatgtga tctgccccca tctgtctacc tgatttccta ctcttcctct cttcttaagc 23400 cccagcatac tgggcttatc attatgagca cttaccactc tctaatggca tatttattgg 23460 tttactcttt gtattgtctt gtttctttgc ttgaattata gacacatttg catagcattt 23520 ttgtcttgtt catcacttta tcttcagtgc ctagggaaat gcttggcaca caattaaaaa 23580 ggtgttcaac atttatctat tgatgaatgg gtaaatccag cactgtctcc ctcttccctg 23640 ccacctccat atcccagtag tcactaggac ctgtaggttc atgtatgtct ctttactctt 23700 tttgatttat cctgaatgtc atgtctcatt ttatattctg tattatttgt tttctggtct 23760 gttactgcca tcttttaact ggttttcctt cagtgttttg tctattccag tctgtatttt 23820 gcactgtcac caaaagatga tttatgaagc ataggtcttt aaaaattaca tgatgggctc 23880 ggtgcggtgg ctcacgcctg taatcccagc actttgggag gccgaggcgg gcggatcacc 23940 tgaggtcagg aattcaagac cagcctggcc aacgtggtga aaccccgtct ctactaaaaa 24000 tataaaaatt agccaggtgt ggcggtgtat gcctgtaatc ccagctactc gaaaggctaa 24060 ggcgggagaa tggcgtgaac ccgggaggtg gagcttgcag tgagccaaga tcgtgtcact 24120 gcactccaac ctgggtgaca gagtgagact ccatctcaaa aaaaaaaaaa aaaaaaatta 24180 catgatgatt cctcatttcc tgtaggataa agtctcagct tagaatcaac tggttgaatt 24240 gttcatagct tttcttaaac ctgccttgta cataacagtg tcagtcaggg ttcaggcaga 24300 gaagcagagt cacgatgaat gttatgggat aacggtttta ctgtaggaag tagatcttga 24360 acaattgtgg gaggaactgg ggaagtgcag gtctgaagag gggagttgga ggattagaga 24420 aaagtaatgg attgatacct aagcactggt gcaggaggac gaggcggagc ttgtagggaa 24480 atctgcagct ggcatgtaca gtggcaaagg ggacccctaa agggaagctc gtggaaaggt 24540 ctctggtaag ctacttcctg tgagtagcta tcgcctctgt gggtctgctg ttgattggca 24600 ggacctgcag ttgggaggaa cagctgaatg aggaatggaa aagaactagg atgacctaga 24660 actggctgag cacttctgca tctgtccatc atcctctctg cgtgtaaaga ccttgaagga 24720 gtgatgttag ctggttcact tctgccacca aatcttgcac aagtccctct tttgggtcag 24780 ctctaacttg gaacaggaaa gagattctgg gagatgtaat tcacagctta atggattgga 24840 cagtaaatcc atccaccaca agactctgtg acttagcccc agtgaactgc ttgctgttat 24900 ctgaacatac taatttcatg tcagtgtatt tgcagtgtat atgctgtttc ctctgcgtga 24960 tgttcgtctc ttcctagtga acttctgctc attctcttaa gacacaactc aagtattatc 25020 tccttgaaat cttcacttcc caagcagctg ctctgtcctc tttgttttca tagtagtcct 25080 ctacttagca tgtaagcaat ttctaccaca tttttttcag tttcctccaa atagtttaag 25140 tgacaattta tctagtgatg tagatgctta taacaagttt gagcctagaa tggtttccga 25200 gaaataggtt atatacaaag cagtgccgcc cttaccaaga tttttttggt ctgatgacac 25260 taggtggtag caggggtttg tctgatggcc tgttttatct tttgttagtt gtaataaatt 25320 aaaacactgt ggctataccc actgtctctt gagtccaccg tgaccaagag taatgtctga 25380 aataaacgta ataaagcctg cccatcaaag aggctaacac agaactgcaa atttactgct 25440 atagatggct gtggaaacaa aatcatagta gtcatcgatt atctgcataa tgttaaaaga 25500 tataatttac tctaactctt aaaggataga aaaagggcca ctttgtttgt tttttcagat 25560 tataaggcac ttggtatctt aaagcggcag ttccctaacg catcactaat tgggctgact 25620 gcaactgcaa caaatcacgt tttgacggat gctcagaaaa ttttgtgcat tgaaaagtgt 25680 tttactttta cagcttcttt taataggcca aatctatatt atgaggtatg taatttttat 25740 gtcaattcct tacttttgtg aagaattacg cagaggggat ctgccttttt attatgttta 25800 tttacatgag cagttaagta cttacaaaaa tttttaacat taggaggtaa ttataagtag 25860 attctgtgat tagggcttca ttcatgtatc ttttgctaca taaacctttg ttagattaaa 25920 tggaagacac ctgctaggtg atacttttta taaaacatat gagtaagtca tatatctttg 25980 ttaaatttct gtatgttctt ttttgtataa agatggagag aaaggatgga gtgatactaa 26040 ggaccctaat aacatctctg ttcaaattaa ttactaagtg atagaagtat tcatatgcca 26100 ttaaagattt gccaattcta tttgaatttt atttgataaa cttgaaaatc aaataaccta 26160 acagctgtct tttctttctt tctaaaccct tttaagaata gatttaatat ttttctgagt 26220 tttcattaaa gagttattta tgttacggtt tgtttttata aaagtagcat cgcaaaataa 26280 aaaagtctgc atccttgcaa gttattcact gctcatgtgc ttgctcttct ctggtaaatt 26340 aaaaaaataa agatcaagaa gagtctggga ggaggaacag atgagtcaga tgggttgaat 26400 cctgtgagta agtgaaagag taataggaaa aaaaacacta tggtcatgaa agaactgcat 26460 cctgaaagtt gtacatagac agccacttgg atggtactca ttcatttact ttttaataag 26520 ttaagttttt tttaggttcg gcagaagccc tcaaacactg aagattttat tgaggatatt 26580 gtaaagctca ttaatgggag atacaaaggg caatcaggta atgtaaaaac aaaccaactt 26640 tggagacaga gataactttc aaaaagtgac ttcatatcat attgataatt atactgataa 26700 ctgaataaca ccaaaaaaaa ttaatgtata gcagaagata cttgaaaata cgtgataaaa 26760 ttaattcact tgatcttaga aattgggtgt gacatttgct tatgccatag attatgagtc 26820 gtcaaattgc ctgatttatt tttgcttatt tacacttgct ttagaataga cctgatgact 26880 taatgttaat tatcaacagc acatatttag tatgtatcca ctgtgtacaa aatagtggat 26940 taagcaactg atattctaaa gggatagaaa atatactccc ttacagtaaa ggacacgtta 27000 aagcaataaa taaatccagt agtacatact gaatagatta agcacagatc gagttgtgag 27060 tatatataca tggttttctg ggtttaatga ctaagcaaat gttactgaag caaagaattt 27120 gtgtgaaagt agcattttaa actgttctat agattttcag gaggtagtcc tgggtaaaag 27180 gagttctagg gtcaaatgaa tttgagaaag gttgcaggta tttattctgc ctggatgttc 27240 acagggtgta tcagcaaact agaagctctg accatccctg aaaataaaga gagacaccca 27300 tttaactttg ttgaatgcaa tgttctccaa attaatttgc atgcaaatta atctaaatta 27360 acccaaaatt aatctggaga acactgcatt catagcacat ttgttagcat cttacagaca 27420 tcagtttgag aaatactgtt tagtgggaga taaagttaaa gagagaaaag agataacagg 27480 aacaaaaact gatggctcag gctcatttct gctttaaagg aagctggtgc tcaaatctgg 27540 aattatacca aaatgtcaat atatgcacaa ggccttgaaa tttttcataa ttcttttttt 27600 ccttctgtgc attgtattaa tcaatgtcct gaatgtgtgt gttgaaaacc atcttccagg 27660 aatatgccat atctatctaa caaatgcaca tattttactg caggaatcat atattgtttt 27720 tctcagaaag actctgaaca agttacggtt agtttgcaga atctgggaat tcatgcaggt 27780 gcttaccatg ccaatttgga gccagaagat aagaccacag ttcatagaaa atggtcagcc 27840 aatgaaattc aggttaggtc tatatcttcc atagaagcct aatttacctt taaaatattt 27900 aaacttgatt taattaactg ataaaatgtt aaaatatttc aggtagtagt ggcaactgtt 27960 gcatttggta tgggaattga taagccagat gtgaggtttg ttatccatca ttcaatgagt 28020 aaatccatgg aaaattatta ccaagagagt ggacgtgcag gtatgtagga ctcaaatcca 28080 gaagtaaatt tttagaaagc ttttccaaaa aatacatgat aaatgcttaa taagtctgta 28140 tgttttatct ttattggata gtatttttag aacaatgtat ttttagcagt ttgacactta 28200 cttgcatatg gagaaatttt tacttatgtt ctgttatctg aattgtttct ttttatgtgt 28260 gttaagataa tttgatgttc atctttgcct cctgaatttt taattagtga tttcaaatct 28320 ataacttaac tggattatag acacattttt taacttagta gagctgatta ttgatgtctc 28380 tttagagttt tttttaattt gagggtaccc attacaaatt aacttccaca tctctaaaat 28440 ttctagatgt agtataaaac attgcctgct aattttacca tatgtcattt ttgcatattt 28500 tgaatttgta aatgtaattc tgcaatctca aggtttctca caccacaggt cgagatgaca 28560 tgaaagcaga ctgtattttg tactacggct ttggagatat attcagaata agttcaatgg 28620 tggtgatgga aaatgtggga cagcagaagc tttatgagat ggtatcatac tgtcaaaaca 28680 taagcaagta agccacatac ctttttataa cttttatcaa ttaaagcaaa tatgaaagta 28740 tatgacatcg tttttaagtt cttactaaat acattggtgg aacaccaaag tgcagatcca 28800 taaaagcaga tgttggaggg taggaaccag cacatcaacc tgtatgatct gccttagttc 28860 aagaaaagat gccctatctt tgagataatc ctccaaaact acttttttaa ttgaaggttt 28920 ttgagacaca ttgatagcaa cttgaaggct ttttttctct ggcactgctg tacagttaca 28980 tgatttaata attttgaaaa ggtctatggt taagataggc attttgagag tcaagctcag 29040 taacgtgcca ccttgccagc tcatgtgtca atgaaatacc aagtttctcc ttaagaagta 29100 agtttaaatc tacttagggt ggctttagac tagatagctt cctgaaagct ttctgtcata 29160 gttatctttg tgcttttatt gcctatcaca taagaagtgc tcagaaatgt cgaggtggta 29220 aatagcagcc agacagtgat agaaatgttc tttctttcca atagatacta caataatcta 29280 gttaaaagaa atgagaaaat gaaaatgtct tccaaaggcc agtagagtct catgaagcat 29340 attttaaggt ttcaactcaa atattgctac tttattaaaa tataagaaac tattttactg 29400 tcaagaatat tctcctaata gttgcaaaac attgaattta aaaatggaac tcagacaatt 29460 ttttaaacag tgtttatcaa gaatatgtgg ggaaaaaagt cctatgtcgg gggcacaatg 29520 gccccccaaa gatgttcacg tcctaattcc taacctgtat gttacctcac atggcaaaag 29580 gaaagtagca ttgcacatgg aattaagact gttcattagc tgaccttaaa atagggagat 29640 tattttagat tgtgtgatgt gagaagaacc tgacactctg attttgatcc agtgaaaccc 29700 atagtacact tctaaatcta aaccacagaa atgtaagaat aaatgtgttt aaagccacta 29760 agtttatggt aatattatgg cagttatagg aagctaatac agtatataac tatgtaagct 29820 gaaatagaga ttcttaaaac tttattatat cctttaataa tttgtatctt taaatgtgtt 29880 tgcagatgtc gtcgtgtgtt gatggctcaa cattttgatg aagtatggaa ctcagaagca 29940 tgtaacaaaa tgtgcgataa ctgctgtaaa gacagtggtg agtttgttgt tttgtaaacc 30000 tttataggct aatacagtca taatgcctag tgacagagat acgttctgag aaatgcatca 30060 ctaggtgatt ttgtcattgt gcaaacatca aagtgtactt acataaacct agatggtata 30120 gtctcctagg tgatatgtta tagcctattg atcctaggct accaatctgt acagcgtgtt 30180 actgtactgc atactgcagg cagctgtaac acatggttaa gtatttgtgt atctaaacat 30240 agagtaagta cagtaaaaat atggtattat aacctgggtg acagcgagac tccgtctcaa 30300 aaaaaaatat atggtattat ataatctctt gggaccactg gcatatacgt ggtccatcac 30360 cgaccaaaat attatgtggc acaaaactgt atatacagct gggacatgag agaagtatta 30420 gacttccaaa tggatttaaa agattaaagt gtgaatcaga ttttccagaa ttaaaactat 30480 caacatgaag ttttgaaaca aaggtgaata aaaggaaaag tcttatgtgt atgcacacat 30540 tttatattgc tatactgagg atgtgaaatt tttaataaat gaaggaaaat atttgaattt 30600 ttctgaatag aaatgctatt ctataagaaa agggaaacca tgtgataatc tctaatactt 30660 tatagtcact aattgaaaag aaaatttagt gcaaaataga gactatagag aatcactttt 30720 gatccagtta atggctagtc atcggagatt tacttaaaat tcttttaaat gtagatcagc 30780 aggatttgtt ttctgagcat tggtcacaac cctgctgatc aaaacaggat ctggtcaaaa 30840 caagatatag caaagaaact ggcccaaaca agttagaact agaaaatata atgtatttgc 30900 atgatgtaag acactcccac tagcaccatg acagtttaca aatgccgtga caatgcccga 30960 aaattacatg gttctaggaa ctccctaacc ttttctagaa gattcatgaa taatcttccc 31020 cttatttagc atataactaa ggagcagcta taaataccgc tagtgagcaa tgtacagtgc 31080 cactctgcct ttggggtagc cctgctctgt ctatggagcc gccattttcc tatactctat 31140 tgctaataaa cttgctttgc tttcacttta ctctgttggc ttgctctcag attgtttctt 31200 gcatgaaact gggaaccctc ctgggctgag tcccaatttt cggatttgcc tgcagcattt 31260 tggcactata ttttaacttt ttttcatccg tgtgttgtat ttcaagatct ggactagcca 31320 gtacctcatg gtaagacctt actgagttct gatgccttgt taggtggaag ccactgtatt 31380 tttaactttg cagacagaga aatttatgag tttattagac tatcttataa aataacaaga 31440 gtgttatata taaatcagag tactggtctc ttaataattg ggttatcagt tgaggacatt 31500 cttgttgcta aatcagagtt cactcaggag cctatactag aacagacagg gtctcctata 31560 aaacacacct cttagtaact tagtaatcat gtctggcaga cactttctga tttctagagt 31620 atatggcagg gcttctgata accaattttt ttttatatat atcactgtaa accccacaat 31680 gcttacagag accataactt ggtctagtga cagagacttg aggaatagcc tagtcttaat 31740 tcagaataca tttaaaaatc aatgtttagg gtggctcaca ttgataacca gctttaaacc 31800 agtttaacta cttaagatag cctatctttg ccctcatttc taaatcctaa ttacctgcta 31860 ccatatttgt tttattacag catttgaaag aaagaacata acagagtact gcagagatct 31920 aatcaagatc ctgaagcagg cagaggaact gaatgaaaaa ctcactccat tgaaactgat 31980 tgattcttgg atgggaaagg gtgcagcaaa actgagagta gcaggtgttg tggctcccac 32040 acttcctcgt gaagatctgg agaagattat tgcacacttt ctaatacagc agtatcttaa 32100 gtatgtacaa actcattcat tattctttca ggttgtcttt atggtttttt tttaaaaatt 32160 gcaacagaat aaacggtttt gcagttattt tgtgtgaact tttaaatgct atagaaagta 32220 atttacctaa aacactcaaa ctttaatcac tataaataaa aaaaagtaac gaaaatattt 32280 tctttaaagg ctttatttgc attcttgtaa attttattat ttcaagtcaa tgtgttaaga 32340 attactgcgc atatagttat ttcttttata aatttgtttt ccgtgattcc ttcaaaagct 32400 ttcttattgt tggcctttat tttctgcaga gaagactaca gttttacagc ttatgctacc 32460 atttcgtatt tgaaaatagg acctaaagct aatcttctga acaatgaggc acatgctatt 32520 actatgcaag tgacaaagtc cacgcagaac tctttcaggg taaatggcta ttaattttca 32580 gttttatata ttttaaaaag tatattaaag cctatgggat gcttttctgt catattcccc 32640 taggtccagt tgaacatgag aaaagtcagt tttctgatta gatttctggg tatggaagag 32700 agaaaatata gttttctgta aagatgtaag tgaaagaatt tagactggcc ttttaacata 32760 aactaggggt ttccagtttc ttggaatggg aggactccgt ttgaatatct aattttgtta 32820 tgcactctgc tcttatttgg ttgtgattac taatagttga gaagtctgtt tctgctgttc 32880 cagtggttag aaaccactgt tttaaaccaa atactatcaa gtctgcaaaa gcatgtcaag 32940 tcaagtgcca ttgtgtctaa ggacatttga ggtctttaga acttctctca caacgtagcc 33000 ccttttattc aaaatagagc tcatatttga atagaaattt gtagataaaa aactagaccc 33060 ctgtatactt aaaaagccaa ctgatacaga aagaatattt tgaaatattt aatctcatga 33120 gaaaactgaa tagctggatt tttaccaagg tgcttgcttt gttttttttt tttttttgta 33180 ggctgaatcg tctcaaactt gtcattctga acaaggtgat aaaaagatgg aggaaaaaaa 33240 ttcaggcaac ttccagaaga aggctgcaaa catgcttcag caatctggtt ctaagaatac 33300 aggagctaag aaaagaaaaa tcgatgatgc ctgatatgaa tgttactaaa ttttctaatt 33360 aaagatggtt tatgcatgta tatgccatta tttttgtagt tagacaatag tttttaaaag 33420 aatttcatag atattttata tgtatggatc tatattttca gagcttatct ctgaagatct 33480 aaacttttga gaatgtttga aaattagaga tcatgaatta tataattttc cagtataaaa 33540 caagggaaaa atttttatgt aaaacccttt aaatgtaaaa tatttgagaa taagttcata 33600 caatcgtctt aagtttttta tgcctttata tacttagcta tattttttct tttgacataa 33660 ctatcttttt gaaagcaata ttatactgac agaggctcac tgagtgatac tttaagttaa 33720 atatgtagat caaggatgtc caatcttttg gcttccctga gccacattgg aagaagaatt 33780 gtcttgggcc gcacataaaa tatgctaaca ctgatgatag ctgatgagct taaaaaaaaa 33840 attgcaagaa aaatctcatg ttttaagaaa gtttacaaaa aatgtaaaat atttgagaat 33900 aagttcatgt aattgtctta agttttttat gcctttatat acttagctat attttttctt 33960 ttgacataac catctttttg aaagcaatat tatactgaca gaggttcact gagtgatact 34020 ttaagttaaa tatgtagatc agggatgtcc aatcttttgg cttccctgag ccacattgga 34080 agaagaattg tcttgggccg cacataaaat atgctaacac tgacgatagc tgatgagctt 34140 aaaaaaaaaa aaattgcaag aaaaatctca tgttttaaga aagtttacag atttgtgttg 34200 ggctgcattc aaagctgttc tgggctgcat tagacccgtg ggctagagtt ggacaagctt 34260 gtagatgatt tcaggttata aaaccagaag tacaattcaa caaaaaagga gtaagtcatc 34320 aatataaata ttagcaaacg agatattgct acatctctat ttaaagtaaa atacaaccga 34380 ttttaaagtt cctgaaacca tagccatatt ttgacatttc acaaagaatg gttctagtct 34440 actagagtac atttggctaa gtagataact tacctaaatt tgctccaaag ctaaatcaca 34500 agtaaacata tttatgttta aaacacagaa ataaataact taagattttt atctaagcgg 34560 tcagtgttgt attggaaaga tatatctata aataaacttt gaactgattt caaacttaga 34620 atttatgttt ttatattttt ccactaatat cattatcact tctgtaattt tcagtgtggt 34680 catcattaac tcaatacagt cattcatttt attgacttgt gatttttctg gtgtcatttg 34740 gaactttata tgattcctga agaaattcca tttttagtca aaataatctt ctatatcaat 34800 atttggatct agcagatctt ctccatatga tgaaagattc atttggttta agattaggtt 34860 ttcaaatgtt tcttctaaat cggtttcacc aattaagaca gctcccatca ttcgtccatt 34920 ttgcatgacg actttgatgt attctcgtcc tttggtacat ctcagcatta attcatgatc 34980 tgaacctaag ccctgtgcat 35000 11 540 DNA Homo sapiens 11 tattttcttt aaaggcttta tttgcattct tgtaaatttt attatttcaa gtcaatgtgt 60 taagaattac tgcgcatata gttatttctt ttataaattt gttttccgtg attccttcaa 120 aagctttctt attgttggcc tttattttct gcagagaaga ctacagtttt acagcttatg 180 ctaccatttc gtatttgaaa ataggaccta aagctaatct tctgaacaat gaggcacatg 240 ctattactat gcaagtgaca aagtccacgc agaactcttt cagggtaaat ggctattaat 300 tttcagtttt atatatttta aaaagtatat taaagcctat gggatgcttt tctgtcatat 360 tcccctaggt ccagttgaac atgagaaaag tcagttttct gattagattt ctgggtatgg 420 aagagagaaa atatagtttt ctgtaaagat gtaagtgaaa gaatttagac tggcctttta 480 acataaacta ggggtttcca gtttcttgga atgggaggac tccgtttgaa tatctaattt 540 12 557 DNA Homo sapiens unsure 55 unknown 12 tttttttttt tttttttttt aagatggata agcaaaagca tttattggtc aatgngatat 60 gttacggttg aggcataccc aggataagaa ctaagcaata ctaaatcagt tattacccga 120 tatttactct tggctcacca tgtacatcaa acatttataa atctcaatgt gcttctggaa 180 tttgaataag gattttggag cacctcaagg ccaatctgtg attaatgaga actgttgagt 240 tacttggctt ggtgtcacag ttgcccactg gttgaaaagg ctggctttag tatctctact 300 atagccaggg attcccactt tatcatggct gtctctctct gaggcacttc ttgccattta 360 attgtaggat tttaatgggg aagattttac tcccgagtag cggaaagatc tgctcgaggc 420 ctgggtgctt tggtgtcgga gatccgagag tcggagatcg gagagtcgga cacaggacag 480 tcggacaccg gacagtcaaa caccggagag ttagaccggg cttctcggag gattggccac 540 caaagcctgt ttattag 557 13 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Antisense Oligonucleotide 13 acccaggcct cgagcagatc 20 14 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Antisense Oligonucleotide 14 ggtgtccgac tgtcctgtgt 20 15 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Antisense Oligonucleotide 15 gtctaactct ccggtgtttg 20 16 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Antisense Oligonucleotide 16 ttatcccaga gcctgtcccc 20 17 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Antisense Oligonucleotide 17 atgtgtgggc gaaaggaagt 20 18 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Antisense Oligonucleotide 18 gaacgtgccc ctaaaggccc 20 19 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Antisense Oligonucleotide 19 agctgctaat aaacaggctt 20 20 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Antisense Oligonucleotide 20 ccagttcctc agttagagct 20 21 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Antisense Oligonucleotide 21 gcatgtagct cactggttat 20 22 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Antisense Oligonucleotide 22 taagctcttg ttgcctttcc 20 23 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Antisense Oligonucleotide 23 aaatcttctt tattccaagc 20 24 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Antisense Oligonucleotide 24 catggaaaat cttctttatt 20 25 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Antisense Oligonucleotide 25 ttttgcagaa tatctttaac 20 26 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Antisense Oligonucleotide 26 aacataagct ctttccacct 20 27 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Antisense Oligonucleotide 27 agtgtaaaac catctgaaca 20 28 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Antisense Oligonucleotide 28 aatgacgagt gtaaaaccat 20 29 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Antisense Oligonucleotide 29 taacatgctc cttagaacta 20 30 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Antisense Oligonucleotide 30 tcacataaat cagctttaac 20 31 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Antisense Oligonucleotide 31 gcttcatagg ctttctctag 20 32 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Antisense Oligonucleotide 32 actgactaca gcagtgaact 20 33 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Antisense Oligonucleotide 33 gaaatcatgt ccccactgac 20 34 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Antisense Oligonucleotide 34 gccttataat caggtctgaa 20 35 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Antisense Oligonucleotide 35 gccgctttaa gataccaagt 20 36 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Antisense Oligonucleotide 36 tttctgagca tccgtcaaaa 20 37 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Antisense Oligonucleotide 37 tctgccgaac ctcataatat 20 38 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Antisense Oligonucleotide 38 atcttcagtg tttgagggct 20 39 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Antisense Oligonucleotide 39 tatatgattc ctgattgccc 20 40 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Antisense Oligonucleotide 40 ttgttcagag tctttctgag 20 41 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Antisense Oligonucleotide 41 cgtaacttgt tcagagtctt 20 42 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Antisense Oligonucleotide 42 tatcttctgg ctccaaattg 20 43 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Antisense Oligonucleotide 43 attggctgac cattttctat 20 44 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Antisense Oligonucleotide 44 ccactactac ctgaatttca 20 45 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Antisense Oligonucleotide 45 tctggcttat caattcccat 20 46 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Antisense Oligonucleotide 46 atggataaca aacctcacat 20 47 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Antisense Oligonucleotide 47 tcatctcgac ctgcacgtcc 20 48 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Antisense Oligonucleotide 48 atacagtctg ctttcatgtc 20 49 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Antisense Oligonucleotide 49 taaagcttct gctgtcccac 20 50 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Antisense Oligonucleotide 50 ttgacagtat gataccatct 20 51 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Antisense Oligonucleotide 51 gttatcgcac attttgttac 20 52 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Antisense Oligonucleotide 52 ctttcaaatg cactgtcttt 20 53 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Antisense Oligonucleotide 53 tcagtttcaa tggagtgagt 20 54 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Antisense Oligonucleotide 54 tgcacccttt cccatccaag 20 55 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Antisense Oligonucleotide 55 tgctactctc agttttgctg 20 56 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Antisense Oligonucleotide 56 aagtgtggga gccacaacac 20 57 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Antisense Oligonucleotide 57 agtgtgcaat aatcttctcc 20 58 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Antisense Oligonucleotide 58 tactgctgta ttagaaagtg 20 59 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Antisense Oligonucleotide 59 gtagtcttct ttaagatact 20 60 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Antisense Oligonucleotide 60 cataagctgt aaaactgtag 20 61 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Antisense Oligonucleotide 61 tattttcaaa tacgaaatgg 20 62 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Antisense Oligonucleotide 62 catgtgcctc attgttcaga 20 63 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Antisense Oligonucleotide 63 acaagtttga gacgattcag 20 64 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Antisense Oligonucleotide 64 gttcagaatg acaagtttga 20 65 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Antisense Oligonucleotide 65 ccagattgct gaagcatgtt 20 66 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Antisense Oligonucleotide 66 tagtaacatt catatcaggc 20 67 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Antisense Oligonucleotide 67 accatcttta attagaaaat 20 68 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Antisense Oligonucleotide 68 taaaatatct atgaaattct 20 69 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Antisense Oligonucleotide 69 cttgttttac actggaaaat 20 70 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Antisense Oligonucleotide 70 acataaaaat ttttcccttg 20 71 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Antisense Oligonucleotide 71 gctttcaaaa agatagttat 20 72 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Antisense Oligonucleotide 72 cctctgtcag tataatattg 20 73 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Antisense Oligonucleotide 73 ctcctttgat tatgcggtta 20 74 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Antisense Oligonucleotide 74 gggctggact agtagcctcc 20 75 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Antisense Oligonucleotide 75 agtcaagaac aaagtgcctt 20 76 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Antisense Oligonucleotide 76 gagtatagac tcgacttaag 20 77 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Antisense Oligonucleotide 77 ccagattgat ttctgggtgt 20 78 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Antisense Oligonucleotide 78 agcatcttga tcttggactt 20 79 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Antisense Oligonucleotide 79 gcaagggtga taatcataag 20 80 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Antisense Oligonucleotide 80 tagttcacaa ttctttctaa 20 81 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Antisense Oligonucleotide 81 ataaattgtc acttaaacta 20 82 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Antisense Oligonucleotide 82 ttgaaacctt aaaatatgct 20 83 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Antisense Oligonucleotide 83 tgcaaataaa gcctttaaag 20 84 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Antisense Oligonucleotide 84 actatatgcg cagtaattct 20 85 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Antisense Oligonucleotide 85 ctcatgttca actggaccta 20 86 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Antisense Oligonucleotide 86 taaaaggcca gtctaaattc 20 87 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Antisense Oligonucleotide 87 tcctcccatt ccaagaaact 20 88 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Antisense Oligonucleotide 88 aaatatcggg taataactga 20 89 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Antisense Oligonucleotide 89 tcagagagag acagccatga 20 90 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Antisense Oligonucleotide 90 ctaataaaca ggctttggtg 20 

What is claimed is:
 1. A compound 8 to 50 nucleobases in length targeted to a nucleic acid molecule encoding RECQL, wherein said compound specifically hybridizes with and inhibits the expression of RECQL.
 2. The compound of claim 1 which is an antisense oligonucleotide.
 3. The compound of claim 2 wherein the antisense oligonucleotide has a sequence comprising SEQ ID NO: 13, 14, 15, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 31, 34, 35, 39, 41, 42, 46, 48, 52, 53, 54, 55, 58, 59, 60, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 71, 72, 73, 78, 79, 84, 85 or
 90. 4. The compound of claim 2 wherein the antisense oligonucleotide comprises at least one modified internucleoside linkage.
 5. The compound of claim 4 wherein the modified internucleoside linkage is a phosphorothioate linkage.
 6. The compound of claim 2 wherein the antisense oligonucleotide comprises at least one modified sugar moiety.
 7. The compound of claim 6 wherein the modified sugar moiety is a 2′-O-methoxyethyl sugar moiety.
 8. The compound of claim 2 wherein the antisense oligonucleotide comprises at least one modified nucleobase.
 9. The compound of claim 8 wherein the modified nucleobase is a 5-methylcytosine.
 10. The compound of claim 2 wherein the antisense oligonucleotide is a chimeric oligonucleotide.
 11. A compound 8 to 50 nucleobases in length which specifically hybridizes with at least an 8-nucleobase portion of an active site on a nucleic acid molecule encoding RECQL.
 12. A composition comprising the compound of claim 1 and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier or diluent.
 13. The composition of claim 12 further comprising a colloidal dispersion system.
 14. The composition of claim 12 wherein the compound is an antisense oligonucleotide.
 15. A method of inhibiting the expression of RECQL in cells or tissues comprising contacting said cells or tissues with the compound of claim 1 so that expression of RECQL is inhibited.
 16. A method of treating an animal having a disease or condition associated with RECQL comprising administering to said animal a therapeutically or prophylactically effective amount of the compound of claim 1 so that expression of RECQL is inhibited.
 17. The method of claim 16 wherein the disease or condition is a hyperproliferative disorder.
 18. The method of claim 17 wherein the hyperproliferative condition is cancer.
 19. The method of claim 16 wherein the disease or condition involves premature aging.
 20. The antisense compound of claim 1 which is targeted to a nucleic acid molecule encoding an alternatively spliced form of RECQL. 